I have been representing the sweetest buyer this month and on Monday, we closed on her forever home. Both the seller and buyer were single women making a huge move to different states to be near their kids and both of them were very stressed. After a few complications, the agent on the other side and I managed to get them to closing but not without some unneeded hard feelings for the seller and the buyer. When I attended the final walk through we found a note from the seller to my client…handwritten on flowery paper. She shared her love of this home and her hope that my client would find peace and joy within its walls just as she had. My clients hard feelings crumbled and she instantly saw what the other agent and I saw, two high stress clients that had good intentions from the beginning. Wounds were healed and my client has already fired off a new note to the seller to thank her and heal the wounds further. I sent a note to the other agent, the seller and to my buyer but it was truly because of the first card in this chain that bridges to friendship and understanding were built.

I was just in receipt of a wedding gift "thank you" from a young couple who got married last summer and they had finally got around to sending their handwritten card. I opened it with anticipation as I love the new bride, am close friends with her mother, threw her bridal shower and have known her since childhood. What I received was literally a two line thank you that essentially said, "Thank you both for your generosity and for coming to our wedding."....well, ummm...I didn't actually get to the wedding and it wasn't that large...and clearly they did not know what gift I had given them. The writing space on the card was 3/4 empty. The card made it into the trash as quickly as the junk mail. Sadly. Now, I'm telling this story because not because I specifically cared about receiving a thank you card- but because John's post was chatting about how it makes one FEEL. I was an obligation (let's get the card DONE) and I'm sure those two lines were on every card that was sent. It was not sincere and I literally dreaded her mother asking me about the card. Sometimes, if you don't write with sincerity and thought, it truly is better to not write at all. I still love the gal and her hubby....clearly! However, I really love to save photos and notes from those who show caring and love, and have given TIME to show me I matter to them. Sincerity MATTERS!

If you wrote or recommended a book on the call can you link it below. I wanted to check them out and add to my reading list. Thanks for sharing!

I've taken on this challenge with my own approach. Instead of writing thank you cards, I've been working on my daily attitude and outlook on my interaction with others. I strive to look at interactions and situations in a more gratuitous light. I've done this especially with people that I've newly met. I participated in a workshop yesterday with this approach and in less than an hour the five of us that attended became fast friends looking forward to seeing each other at the next event. The experience truly made my day and reminded me that we often all want the same thing: positive human connection that makes us feel good and reminds us that we matter.