Thank You Cards
Having read some of the other blogs about how and when to send a written thank you, I thought we might all reflect on the following quote from A.J. Cronin,
the Scottish novelist and writer of non-fiction:
Gratitude is something of which none of us can give too much. For on the smiles, the thanks we give, our little gestures of appreciation, our neighbors build up their philosophy of life.
Too often, we see the written thank you as an obligation. We think that others expect us to say thank you, and we need to respond to these expectations. Since it seems to be more and more difficult to see our friends, family, and neighbors in person, we must look at other choices. I keep my personalized thank you cards in their box at my desk for exactly this reason. When I want to convey a thank you to a friend, colleague, or family member, I enjoy the act of putting pen to paper and composing the written thank you.
For me, putting the stamp on the envelope and “posting” the letter is so satisfying. For the recipient, as Mr. Cronin says, it might become a small memory and a part of their life.
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Deron Sue Lee
I love the quotation from A.J. Cronin. It’s so true that small gestures that we make toward others become tools that others use to “build up their philosophy of life.” So, a thank-you notes becomes something more important than just a thank-you note.
8 April 2010, 10:08 amConrad Aldeman
Yes,sending the thank-you note might be a small investment of time for the sender, but a larger, important consolation for the recipient, helping her or him to “build up their philosophy of life.”
9 April 2010, 9:43 amJ. Danziger
The A.J. Cronin quote is profound. It says so much in one sentence … it is almost a poem in itself.
10 April 2010, 10:33 amPatti Fredrickson
I love that quotation, it is so meaningful to me.
12 April 2010, 8:44 amRenee Robertson
The quote is inspiring to me.
13 April 2010, 8:37 amRenee Robertson
A thank-you note is not an obligation, it’s an opportunity.
13 April 2010, 8:38 amCassandra
A.J. Cronin said so much in those two sentences…
13 April 2010, 8:43 amAlda Constantine
Yes, we forget that our thoughts and our actions set an example for others, and our friends and family are influenced by our manners.
15 April 2010, 9:42 amMae Wheeler
The quote from A.J. Cronin is so memorable… yes, we are examples for our friends, and all of our gestures are important.
16 April 2010, 10:05 amStanley Jay Freedman
The quotation says it all …
16 April 2010, 10:11 amDee Piper
The quotation is so meaningful and touching.
17 April 2010, 6:25 pmElizabeth Glaser
The quote is touching and memorable…
21 April 2010, 9:29 amRBST
This quote is inspiring. That’s all I can say.
21 April 2010, 7:15 pmLucy in Sky
Yes, it’s true … our friends (or neighbors as the quote says) do build their philosophy of life by observing all the little gestures of the individuals that they know and respect. This is yet another reason for all of us to work on our manners and our personal style …
22 April 2010, 8:43 amGinny Greenfeldt
What is it about that quote that is so intriguing ?
23 April 2010, 4:23 pmCorrine Kinserri
I’m inspired by the quote, I find it reassuring. We need more blogs like this one…
24 April 2010, 11:36 amGary
… very meaningful, the quote …
3 May 2010, 2:32 pm