Congratulations!

     The wife of a friend of mine took the Bar exam recently and has been eagerly awaiting the results.  Yesterday, my friend shared the great news that she passed with flying colors!  Figuring it might be nice for her to get a personal note of congratulations, I went out today and picked up a nice card, wrote out a meaningful note, and got it off in the mail to their home address.

     You just can't beat a personal, handwritten note for letting people know that you're thinking about them and that you care.  The fact that it's handwritten tells them that you took the time and effort to focus on them and share your thoughts.  In an age where many technologies can make the world feel impersonal, handwritten notes harken us back to a different time.  I'm not sure that will (or should!) ever be replaced.

Another Personal Note

     Continuing yesterday's theme of handwritten notes, today I sent a note to someone I know who just dropped off her only child to college for the first time.  I sure remember how I dreaded that day, and how difficult it was.  I actually cried enough when we dropped off Ben that my wife had to take over the driving!  To make matters more difficult for the person to whom I wrote, this was also her only child.  

     In difficult times it's nice to know you have the support of friends and family and a handwritten note conveys that support in ways that other means don't necessarily do.

A Note of Good Wishes

     I recently learned of a friend who got banged up in a bicycle accident.  Though he's recovering well, I thought it might be nice to send off a handwritten note letting him know that I was thinking of him and wishing him well.  And that's exactly what I did this evening.

     Though e-mail is certainly a fast and effective method for communicating, sometimes you can't beat a hand-written note received in the US mail.  There's something about opening an envelope and realizing that someone took the time to think of you.  It's a bit of a lost art, but one worth holding onto.

Meaningful Notes

     The other day I heard the sad news that a friend's father had passed away after an up and down battle with a serious illness.  Today I decided to send my friend a rather lengthy note of sympathy.  In my note, I talked about the things I remembered most about his father and I described my observations about, and respect for, the relationship that the two of them so obviously shared.  They really did appear to have a very special bond.

     I know from experience that heartfelt and sincere hand-written notes can mean so much to people.  I'll sometimes hear a story years later of the impact a note had and how it was saved and cherished by the recipient.  My wife is particularly good at doing these notes and it is quite meaningful for people.

     In contrast, one of my biggest pet peeves is the standard card that's so often sent with no note and sometimes not even a signature.  This habit is on display at its worst during the December holidays.  I'm amazed at the number of cards we get with no note or signature.  It makes me feel like the sender merely crossed off "send out cards" from their "to do" list, almost as if it were an automated process with minimal human intervention.  Many times this takes the form of a family photo, especially of the kids.  To be sure, I'm not against seeing the family. I just want to know that they actually thought about me personally for a moment or two.  Nothing shows this more than a thoughtful, hand-written note.