The lost art of letters

I hada conversation with my mom recently about thank yous and thank you cards. We concluded that with each generation the art of writing and especially thank you cards was dying. In my grandma's generation they gave thank you cards for everything: a lunch date, a gathering for tea, for gifts and general appreciation. In my mom's generation they were taught to do the same but it was more relaxed and sometimes forgotten but not a big deal. "Maybe we don't have to thank them for everything..." And then in my generation, thank you cards were seen, certainly mentioned, but seem almost out of date. Now, it almost serems old fashioned just to SAY thank you to someone, let alone write more than an email to express a thank you.

 It almost makes sense that we have so much quick paced technology that a thank you card seems to slow us down.

Almost. 

Until you realize that a thank you, whether written or just verbal, is to acknowledge another person! How can this be old fashioned? How can it be out of date? People are still in our lives and thinking of us. It should not just be a curtesy to say thank you, but a desire to express gratitude. 

I have had this topic on my heart a lot in the last few weeks and months. It all began with that conversation about thank you cards, and as I witness gratitude (and unfortunately a large lack thereof) all around me, I decided to put these thoughts down. I'll be writing more on this in the coming weeks. Stay tuned and let me know if you agree!

In the meantime, if you'd like to check out Emily Post's thoughts on the matter, 

read further here