Recently I read an article about how the practice of handwriting notes has gone out of fashion. I'm not sure where this was -- probably some popular magazine piece about notecards.
Nonetheless, the article had a point. In our electronic world, so few of us take the time to write notes to people. I will admit that I am guilty of this. I meet a lot of people in my work, and so often, in my mad rush to do a thousand things at once, I resort to email notes.
In the world of work, that's acceptable I suppose. Lately, though, after meeting someone and having a somewhat meaningful conversation at a work-related social event, I've delighted in taking the time to hand-write a note the next day. A simple "I enjoyed our conversation and would like to continue over lunch" or "thank you for your gracious hospitality" goes a long way, I think.
Nobody ever comments on it, but I like doing it.
After reading the article, though, I decided that I should take up the practice in my personal life. A phone call the day after having been in someone's home is appropriate, but I think a hand-written thank you is an additional gesture.
I'm not getting caught up in having letter press stationery printed, but I did buy some notecards.
While wandering Boston last week, Andy and I came upon Paper Source on Boylston Street. There I found a great selection of blank notes in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. They also had a great selection of rubber stamps and a wide range of ink pad colors.
I selected some 4x6 flat cards and envelopes in khaki, and a funky lower-case "g" stamp and a royal blue ink pad.
Tonight, I wrote notes to Chris and Drew with whom we stayed in Boston, plus my friends Mark and Zane who had us to dinner in their home, and Ara, who hosted a lovely New Year's eve party at his house (wow, can that boy make stuffed grape leaves or what!?)
As we get more and more techno and faster and faster with our daily lives, I think it's important not to lose some of the niceties of yesteryear. It keeps us grounded, I think.
I was just thinking that I should write to a couple of my old friends who still enjoy sending handwritten notes. E-mails are nice, but there is nothing like getting a sweet card in the mail
Posted by: Karen | January 07, 2010 at 05:00 PM