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Thank you notes are an important part of everyday life. These days, less and less people write them, as children grow up and are not taught the common courtesy of writing a note of thanks for gifts and hospitality. Not only should children be taught to write a polite thank you note, but adults should get into the healthy habit of writing them too!
 
 Why should you write a thank you note? For one, it’s just the polite thing to do. If someone has give you a gift, if you have had someone over to your home or been invited to someone else’s house, be it for a party or just an informal visit, a thank you note is in order. It helps the other person feel appreciated and like you really noticed, instead of going on with your life as if it never happened. Everyone likes getting real mail. In today’s age of technology, email, texting, and even Facebook have become society’s methods of communication. So it’s a special treat to get the mail and see more than bills and catalogs! Tell people you care and you remember the nice things they have done for you -- send a thank you note!
 
 When should you send a thank you note? You should always send one when you receive gifts (birthday, holidays, hostess, etc.) and, as mentioned above, when you have company or are invited out. If someone unexpectedly (or expectedly) does a kind thing for you, consider sending her a thank you note. It could be something as seemingly small as helping you carry something to your car, but it will be a blessing in their day to know that you noticed and appreciated their efforts.
 
 “All right, you’ve convinced me that I should write thank you notes,” you say. “But I never know what to say!” 
The great thing about thank you notes is they do not have to be long! You can get a small sized card and that way fewer words will still fill up your card pretty well. As long as your words are sincere and heartfelt, people will not mind it if the card isn’t written so it is overflowing on to the back. 
 
For gifts, it is polite to specifically mention the item, and state something(s) that you like about it, even if it isn’t exactly what you were hoping for! You can almost always find something nice about anything. For instance, don’t say, “Dear Sarah, Thank you for the gift. I really like it and it was nice of you to give it to me.” Instead, say, “Dear Sarah, Thank you so much for the lotion and shower gel! Cucumber melon is one of my favorite scents, and I was actually in need of some more lotion. You are so sweet to think of me. I’m glad we’re friends!” Obviously, adjust to whatever the gift is that you have received. Remember not to gush artificially about things. Always try to be sincere! 
 
For being invited to someone’s home, thank them for their hospitality in having you over. Thank them for the food (if it was for a meal) and perhaps mention something you particularly enjoyed. Say what a great time you had and how you hope to get together again in the future (hopefully that’s true! J). Here’s an example: “Dear Smith Family, Thanks so much for your hospitality in having me and Bill over for dinner. The meal was delicious; I would really like to get your recipe for the rolls -- they were to die for! We both had a marvelous time chatting with you and playing Monopoly. J Good memories! Hope to see you all again soon! Warmly, Karen.”
 
If you have hosted someone else at your home, it would be similar. Say something like, “Dear Mary, It was so great to have you and your family over yesterday. Thanks so much for coming and for bringing that wonderful chocolate cake! I could have eaten the whole thing myself! Our kids had such a great time playing with Jill. Hope to do it again soon!”
 
“Informal” thank you notes, the kind you write for those small kindnesses, don’t have to be long at all (unless you want it to be!). It can be as simple as, “Dear Jane, I just wanted to thank you for your help in getting the kids to the van after church. I appreciated it so much. You are a wonderful young lady! Love, Mrs. Jones.”
 
I hope this has given you some inspiration to start writing thank you notes regularly; or if you already do, encouragement to keep it up! A simple little note can spread a lot of joy. Happy writing!