BFTP: The power of the handwritten thank you

While I have never made a secret of the fact that I never missed classroom teaching, preferring to work with adults, it was fun to get back in the classroom now and again.

During I Love to Read month one year when schools asked guest readers to share books with elementary students, I read Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk to second grade students. As both a librarian and a writer, I deeply identified with Sam and was happy to share the book with a class of very interested and engaged kids. The cards in the photo above (and more) came in the interschool mail a week after.

While the reward of doing these sorts of things was actually in the doing - it was just plain fun - I was tickled to receive the handwritten cards as well.

Written thank yous are sort of a big deal in my family. (I am not saying you'd never get another gift if one does not send thanks for the previous gift, but I wouldn't take a chance with a couple relatives.) Anyway, my children and now grandchildren seem to be thank you card writers, and I am pleased.

My job as a technology director was to promote and help people use digital tools. I, personally, find it more convenient to send an email or text than a letter or make a phone call. And yet, I also understand the power of seeing a handwritten message, of hearing a human voice, of having a face-to-face conversation.

Call me old fashioned, call me sentimental, but I still like people better than things. And handwritten notes better than texts.

Original post 3/19/15