Are thank-you notes old-fashioned?

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward

Several advice columnists have noted that a large percentage of their mail comes from baffled readers who are hurt or angry because they didn’t receive thank-you notes for their gifts. At the same time, other readers argue that it isn’t necessary to write thank-you notes now. One young bride said she didn’t have time to write thank-you notes for her wedding gifts because her life was “too busy.”

Most etiquette experts agree that a handwritten note of appreciation is the right thing to do when you’ve received a gift, a special favor, or when you’ve enjoyed someone’s hospitality. Likewise, in professional situations, including job interviews, sending a thank you note sets you apart from other clients and competitors. For a modern, updated spin on thank-you notes, check out this article on Emily Post Etiquette online.

A text or an email expressing gratitude is better than nothing, experts say. Yet there’s something special about finding a real note in your mailbox. It reconnects you to the sender and elevates the relationship. I’m inclined to save a note like that — and I remember the sender long after I gave the gift or hosted the party. ~Cindy La Ferle

P.S. That’s my granny in today’s photo. She wrote lots of thank-you notes.