Today the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Advice That Changed My Life goes on sale in bookstores and online. My story "The Power of a Thank-You Note" is included in the second chapter and I'm so grateful. It's a story that I've wanted to write for a long time and finally just sat down, wrote it and submitted it. A lot of times stories float around in my head and they stay there, but it's not until they get on paper and submitted do they have a chance of being read by others.
A handwritten thank-you note is such a rare thing these days. Everyone thinks that if they send a text, they've done their job. But what if those same words were penned on paper or a notecard and sent in the mail with a stamp on it. Mail has become a rare item as well, but a handwritten thank-you note is a thing of beauty. I cherish every one I receive.
My mom was a stickler for thank-you notes. All expressions of gratitude had to be expressed within twenty-four hours. It wasn't until much later that I realized the power of a thank-you note. It changed my life. I'm now a collector of thank-you notes and believe it or not, I'll write someone a thank-you for their thank-you note! If that seems a little over the top, it just might be, but I do it anyway.
Can anyone be too grateful? I don't think so. The next time you receive a gift, sit down and write the sender a note of appreciation. Flex your thank-you muscles and see what happens. Until next time...
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