How To Write A Thank You Letter

Axiom: People who provided you a gift, directly, within this past holiday season, for whatever reason, qualify for a ‘thank you’ in voice or written form.

In voice is absolutely the best, especially if more than a year has physically separated the two of you. Written is a close, artistic second, in that you HAVE to use paper and whatever liquid you write with – Blood of the Damned is good, I lean towards Tears of The Foresaken m’self – and…you have to use words that auto pop from your thoughts. Ooh.

This is tough because your thumbs are not hitting a keypad. This is tough because you can’t click on a Like and be done. This is tough because the Internet can’t do it for you. This is you acknowledging a human being and beaming out from your belly that you CARE.

Rule 1: Do NOT let more than two weeks pass before emoting/composing a thank you. It looks like you don’t care. Yes, we know you don’t care, but don’t emphasize it by letting time slip by!

Rule 2: Don’t ask why. Do ask how. This is where your buddy Von comes in.

My credentials: a faithful reader of Miss Manners throughout childhood, a teen-aged reviewer of the smattering of social decorum guides provided by Il Mama, and several years’ experience composing cordial correspondences for big suits, tenured profs, and a couple of Star N Bar maniacs!

Here’s the order of events:

1: Standard greeting

2: Thank you sentence

3: Gift acknowledgement

4: Empowering statement

5: Close

6: Adverb

Don’t get too verbose; think Hemingway over Faulkner. Here’s one I’m flinging off the top of my head:

1: Hello Mabel,

2: Thank you for the lovely card and wonderful gift.

3: A gas card is a hot commodity for an SUV driver like me!

4: It’s nice to know you care about my safety on the road.

5: May the New Year be filled with new and exciting adventures for you!

6: Fondly, Bubba

See? Super easy. And…super respectful. Remember the last time you received a handwritten letter? Now, can you imagine how your handwritten letter is going to blow your gifter’s mind? Especially if you’re the type who’d rather update his Facebook status than say hello to the person standing next to him? Keep ’em guessing, I always say. Doing the unexpected to express appreciation is the sexiest thing one person can do to another with clothes on. 😉

Now let’s do a real one together. This goes to Lani D, the Blogger Outreach Coordinator at East Dane clothing company..

Dear Lani D,

Happy New Year! Thank you for the gift certificate, and what perfect timing; I scored a cozy Cheap Monday knit sweater to replace an eyesore of a cardigan.

This contest was a great way for me to learn about East Dane. Your site is bookmarked for future visits!

May you continue to experience happiness and excellence throughout 2015.

Sincerely, Von Simeon

Two weeks from December 25th is January 8th, so get those Thank You letters out quickly!