The Thank You Card Challenge

When was the last time you mailed a handwritten thank you card?

 

This summer, I read a book called A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life, by John Kralik. At the beginning of 2008, the author’s life was in shambles; his law practice was on the fritz, he was going through a divorce, living in a stuffy, old apartment, and had no relationship to speak of with his adult sons. On New Year’s Day, he had a stroke of insight: say thank you. He made a resolution to write 365 thank you notes that year for any and everything he was grateful for, starting with his holiday gifts and continuing on to thank people for their time, friendship, counsel, service, and love. And as he wrote his thank you notes one by one, his life started to turn around. By the end of the project (which took around 15 months), he was in an entirely new place, filled with optimism and a sense of possibility.

 

The book gave me an itch to write thank you notes of my own, so I bought a few packs of cards and mailed about a dozen to people, many of whom were so touched to get a handwritten note in this day and age!

 

This week I’m working on another batch, and if you’re interested in doing something similar, here are ideas of who to thank:

immediate and extended family (sometimes these are the hardest to write)

friends and acquaintances for specific kindnesses or just for being in your life

shadchanim, dating coaches, and anyone who has tried to help you with shidduchim

neighbors

medical professionals and therapists

teachers, mentors, and the person who gives the shiur you listen to

coworkers, supervisors, and bosses

maintenance, IT, and support staff

accountants and other professionals whose services benefit you

cleaning help and repair people

 

Who else?