You know how when you finish one task it’s sometimes hard to know what to do next? So we dip into Facebook or Twitter and the next thing you know, we have NO focus.
I’ve discovered a transitional task that adds to the energy and focus:
Write a quick thank you note or card. If you have these handy at the desk with stamps, it’s super easy to write one in five minutes.
You feel good, you wow someone, and chances are you will have renewed focus when you turn back to work.
What do you use in between things to refresh and re-focus? I’m also curious to know what rituals you have to write your thank you cards? When do you do it? How often? Do you even send cards in the mail?
I’m thinking if you try this practice and share it with others, we’ll all feel more grateful and maybe even get more thank you cards in the mail!
If you want to send me anything in the mail (yes, please!), sign up for my Impulses newsletter. At the very bottom of each (free) issue, you’ll see my address, a post office box in Denver. Join the impulsive crowd in the box above this post.
Linda Buchner says
April 2, 2013 at 11:14 amThanks for the reminder Cynthia. I know I always love to get snail mail from someone special and a thank you card is the cream of the crop!
Cynthia Morris says
April 2, 2013 at 11:24 amI love snail mail, too! I wrote this article based on a conversation we had, so thank you!
I love getting cards from you. 🙂
Jeffrey Davis says
April 2, 2013 at 7:22 pmLove this. Luna Jaffe taught me to send thank you notes with every check I mail out. (My team appreciates them.) And my sister sent me last week a set of Pop-Up Notecards. You open the card, and a pop-up typewriter appears with a quotation by Ludwig Wittgenstein (my sis knows me :-)).
True snail mail is one of those dying arts.
Thanks for this.
Laurel Becker says
April 2, 2013 at 10:01 pmHi Cynthia:
I have been doing the thank you notes for years. Sometime, I write a letter. It is a wonderful way to start my day, and it helps to focus me into a writing process. Also, others have told me what a joy it is to get a traditional envelope in them mail.
Cynthia Morris says
April 9, 2013 at 8:00 amLaurel,
Yes, starting the day with a thank you seems like a great practice! I’m glad to hear you’re doing this. Keep spreading the joy!
Carrie Cahill Mulligan says
April 5, 2013 at 1:53 pmThis is such a wonderful, helpful idea, Cynthia, thank you!
Earlier in my fiber career, I took Alyson B. Stanfield’s advice to heart and started sending out thank you cards to all my collectors.
We had a crazy year in 2012 (with lots of hospital time and more chaos than usual), and I find I’ve fallen out of the practice.
I appreciate the gentle nudge to get back into this simple routine of giving thanks, thank you!
Cynthia Morris says
April 9, 2013 at 8:00 amCarrie,
I’m glad you’re getting back to your practice of thank you notes! I love sending and receiving them. I am at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder a lot and their selection of cards makes it easy for me to have them on hand to send.
Sorry to hear you were at the hospital a lot! Hope 2013 is a much better year for you.
Carrie Cahill Mulligan says
April 9, 2013 at 3:49 pmThank you, Cynthia. So far, 2013 is treating us great! xo
Brian Reece says
April 9, 2013 at 6:44 amThanks for sharing this. Makes me nostalgic about the days when we would wait that postcard or a letter that was due. Snail mail has become a thing of the past, sadly, in today’s instant world. But it would be so beautiful to receive something in the letterbox that still stands outside the house. I am sure I’m going to do my bit.
Cynthia Morris says
April 9, 2013 at 8:02 amThank you to everyone who commented here! It makes me happy to know that this has struck a chord.
Brian, mail is not a thing of the past – yet! If you do your bit, you help keep the practice of sending things alive.
I love cards and paper so it’s easy for me to send things in the mail. I love how a simple thing has become extraordinary! It’s easy to stand out with mail now.
Send something today!
Adela Rubio says
April 18, 2013 at 7:27 amThe lost art of writing personal notes! Loved the ‘thank you’ card suggestion, makes it more do-able. Thanks, Cynthia!