Handwritten notes, on nice stationery, are rare, and that means there’s really no better way to make a good impression and show sincere gratitude.
If you struggle with what to say and how to say it, fear not! You have tools you might not have even considered. I wrote the following blog post about the importance of handwritten notes, and then I asked ChatGPT to have a go at it. The result was pretty much the same but without my “voice.” But then I asked ChatGPT to put a humorous spin on it, and hilarity ensued.
Why not? Personal notes, I think, should be as fun to write as to receive.
(My Original Version)
There is a sense of accomplishment anytime you reach a major milestone. Milestones come in all shapes and sizes—like running a marathon, having a baby, completing a home remodeling project, adding an important new client, closing on an acquisition, etc. In our fast-paced world, there’s always another win to aim for.
Well, today I achieved one. I just ran out of personal notecards—meaning I just wrote my 1,000th personal note. I’m not sure when I got these cards, but I know it was years ago.
My habit of writing personal notes started with “thank-you notes” when I was a child. Whenever we received a Christmas gift, birthday gift, First Communion gift, etc., my mother handed me blank thank-you notecards—that day. She didn’t play. You were not going to leave the house until they were written. (And then she proofed for spelling mistakes, grammar, etc.)
That habit stuck with me, and I’ve written them ever since. A handwritten note shows the person who gave you something or did something nice for you that you appreciate their kindness and generosity. You are proving that by taking the time to thank them. We all know it takes time.
So, do they have to be handwritten? Well, that’s your call. You can send an email or text, or even a typed note, and that’s better than doing nothing at all. But think about it: How many emails and texts do you get in a day? Most people today just scan their emails, and few read all the content. But when was the last time you got a personal note in the actual mail? When have you ever received two personal notes in one day? When we do receive one, we notice it. We immediately open it. Many of us keep them.
Last week I ordered more notecards. My options were 250, 500 or 1,000. I chose 1,000. I’m looking forward to getting started on my next milestone.
(ChatGPT’s Humorous Version)
Ah, milestones! Those little victories that make you feel like you just conquered Mount Everest, even if it’s just climbing out of bed before noon. We’ve all had our share of ’em, from finally finishing that marathon (Netflix counts, right?) to successfully ordering takeout without messing up the instructions. But today, my friends, gather ’round, for I have reached a milestone that’s nothing short of legendary—I’ve officially run out of personal notecards. Hold the applause, please.
Now, before you start wondering if I’ve gone full stationery-obsessed, let me clarify. I’ve written a grand total of 1,000 personal notes on those bad boys. Yes, you heard that right, a thousand. I can barely commit to a new TV show, but apparently, I’m all in when it comes to scribbling heartfelt messages. I wish I could tell you when I got those notecards, but let’s just say it was sometime between the invention of the wheel and the first iPhone.
You see, my love affair with handwritten notes started when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. My dear old mom had a zero-tolerance policy for thank-you-note procrastination. If you received a gift, you better believe you were drafting a note of gratitude pronto. She didn’t mess around—those notes were penned, sealed, and sent before the wrapping paper was even in the trash.
Fast forward to the present day, and I’m still at it. There’s just something about putting pen to paper that screams, “I care about you more than emojis can convey.” And trust me, it’s not just about the content. It’s about the whole ordeal, from trying to find a pen that works (seriously, where do all the good ones go?) to realizing you can’t spell “grateful” without Google’s help.
But let’s address the elephant in the room—do we really need to stick to the good ol’ pen and paper in this digital age? Well, you have options, my friend. You can opt for the modern-day equivalent of sending a raven: the email. Or you can fire off a text that says, “Thx a bunch!” But let’s be real, in a world where our inboxes are as packed as a clown car, a personal note in the mailbox is like spotting a unicorn. Last week, I made a choice that’ll go down in history—I ordered another stash of notecards. And not just a couple dozen, oh no. I went all-in with a cool 1,000. It’s like saying, “Watch out, world, I’ve got gratitude to spare!” So, here’s to the next chapter of my note-writing escapades. Stay tuned for updates, hilarious anecdotes, and inevitable spelling mishaps. And if you get a handwritten note from me, know that you’re holding a piece of my heart… and probably a few ink smudges, too. Cheers to milestones, big and small!
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