What I am about to say will seem completely foreign or even downright crazy to many people, but just hear me out before you throw up on this suggestion: The next time you sit down to send an email to thank someone, consider getting a pen and paper and writing a handwritten note instead.

“Handwrite an actual note…what?!?! Are you serious?!”  I know, I know…it probably sounds crazy because many of us literally cannot remember the last time we actually got out a pen and paper and hand wrote anything to anyone. Heck we barely write out a check anymore since everything is done electronic with a credit card or auto pay. Even contracts are signed with click through buttons or esignatures that stamp on electronic documents.  Technology today has almost completely negated the need for a pen with ink at all!

So then why would I suggest you hand write anything to anyone when it is so much faster and more convenient to simply type it and hit send email, or key it in and hit send text?  Well I will tell you why:  A handwritten note makes people feel SPECIAL and IMPORTANT!  And because it screams to the person opening it “YOU WERE WORTH THE EXTRA EFFORT!” (note the capital letters so you could actually feel the screaming happening 🙂  ). That’s the kind of impact it has.

Just think about it. When was the last time you received a handwritten note? And how did it make you feel? Well I can tell you that I received a handwritten note just today from my. She hand wrote a simple note to tell me she loves and appreciates me. Just seeing the handwritten envelope arriving in the mail made me feel special and then opening it and reading it got me all chocked up. And just a week before this a neighbor gave me a handwritten card to tell me congratulations on a recent accomplishment. Receiving two handwritten notes in one month – I feel like I hit the jackpot!

Seriously, the warm fuzzy you get when someone took the time to give you a little note they wrote by hand is undeniable. It matters to you. If you don’t believe me then go find that special box of past treasured items you keep somewhere in the house. Maybe its hidden under a bed or stuffed in some storage closet. Open it up. I would venture to bet that the majority of what is stored in that special box is handwritten notes and cards you have received over the years from people. I know that is what mine has in it. I haven’t kept every gift given to me by people for birthdays or holidays for years on end…most of us haven’t…but for some reason I can never bring myself to throw away a handwritten note or card. I keep all of them.

There was even a business study done with employees to see what form of appreciation they valued the most and the #1 thing that they valued most, even over a monetary reward, was a handwritten note of appreciation from a manager.  See it is worth more than money!

Whether it’s in your business life or your personal life, there are definitely people that matter to you, so why not take the time every so often to get out a pen and paper and handwrite them a note letting them know you appreciate them. Sure it might take a few extra minutes and a little extra effort, but the lasting impression you will leave with that person will be worth it.

I’m off to write handwritten card to send someone…have a great day everyone!  Go send a card!

~Amy