A few days ago, it was my birthday. I’m thankful that I have family and friends that wish me well and send me the annual birthday card or even treat me with a gift or dinner. I thank them in person if possible, but if I am unable to do so, I send a thank you card. Now, even if I thank someone in person that treated me or gave me a gift, I like to go the extra mile because they did for me. Call me old fashioned, but I believe anything hand-written is more personal and demonstrates more compassion or thoughtfulness than just sending a text. Sitting down and simply writing, “Thank you for the birthday card/gift. I really appreciate you thinking of me.” Or something along those lines, only takes a few minutes, but makes a lasting impression.  

Writing a thank you card isn’t just for birthdays. They can be sent because someone sent you a gift or card while you were sick, helped you with a project or task or a big company took the time to interview you. A thank you card, even a small, blank card you got from a pack of twenty at Walmart gets the job done. There’s no need to write a long paragraph or have a card with glitter on it to get the point across to the individual you are thanking. The words inside the card is what matters at the end of the day.  

I like to receive mail that isn’t a bill. Most people could probably say the same. There’s an irreplaceable sense of joy or appreciation when seeing a physical card with your name on it sitting in your mailbox. Yes, getting a text can make you happy, but a card is more sincere. The color, style and size of the card all show the sender’s personality. The one-of-a-kind handwriting or even the stamp they used demonstrates the uniqueness the person has that a text message can’t express.  

Today’s technology has eliminated sincerity. Sending a text is easy and quick, with the message being received in a matter of seconds. This can be a great tool, yet it can also be a very impersonal one. When texting, it’s very easy to get into the habit of looking at a text for two seconds and then forget about it for the rest of the day. When receiving a card, you must take the time to open and read what was sent. You realize someone has taken the time to write the card, hence you should take the time to read what they wrote.     

The next time someone does something for you or you just think they need to be shown appreciation, sit down and write a thank you card. They could have been having a bad day and receiving a thank you card in the mail can be what turns their day around. If you have never sent a thank you card or a card in general, I challenge you to send one to an individual in your life because there’s always someone that deserves one.