Dear Mrs. A – December
Dear Mrs. A,
It might be old fashioned to talk about thank you notes, but I think we should have a quick reminder before the holidays.
– Holiday Happy in The Hamlet
I absolutely love that you are Happy in The Hamlet and I love that you’ve asked for a refresher around gratitude for the holidays. I don’t think it’s old fashioned at all! And there are so many ways to show our gratefulness these days, I’m thrilled to write about it.
It’s generally considered good manners to thank someone for a gift so let’s talk about when a simple thanks will suffice, when a message is obligatory and when it’s more optional.
If you receive a gift during a holiday gathering and thank the giver face to face, an additional thank you note isn’t necessary but always appreciated. For smaller or informal gifts, a verbal thank you can also be enough.
You should definitely thank someone for a personalized gift, if it was thoughtfully chosen or handmade. And be sure and acknowledge unexpected gifts, even if it’s a quick message. Lastly, if friends or family sends a gift and can’t be thanked in person, a thank you note, call, or message is required.
More casual/optional thank yous include group gifts and gift exchange scenarios where gifts are expected. A quick thanks in the collective text can suffice.
Ultimately, it’s about making the giver feel appreciated and valued. There’s no need to thank everyone formally, a sincere acknowledgment, whether in person or via message, or in a thank you card, is always a kind, thoughtful and necessary gesture when receiving a gift.
If you’d like to jazz up those text messages, there are several apps (many that are free) that offer the whimsical, gorgeous and funny way to communicate.
Big Love,
Mrs. A
