The words for today are: thank you. They’ve been on my mind lately, and it doesn’t just have to do with Thanksgiving. I’ve received three thank you notes in the last few days, and each one of them has made my day.

I’m a biggie on thank you notes. I write them often, and am beginning to think perhaps I’m the only one in the world who does anymore. I think I’m a bit of a thank you note dinosaur. People look at them like a charming but old fashioned gesture. But I love them. I especially love them in today’s electronic world, where we get a tweet or a Facebook note or an email. But a handwritten note? Who does that anymore?

Well a few folks do. One note I received was from an author I did an interview with a while back. She sent me a thank you note and an historic Roman coin. I wrote her immediately to thank her for the thank you note (which might seem weird, but I was so jazzed) and told her that the coin she sent is now sitting next to computer as a good luck charm as I search for an agent.

The next thank you note I got was from a vendor. Now, as you all know I work with many vendors for giveaways for my Blisstree and Working Writers blogs. I sometimes get an email saying “thanks” following a post or giveaway, but I have never received a true blue thank you note! They thanked me for coordinating their giveaway, and then said:

We are a small company (but growing every day) and your support will help us grow into an even better company. For that, I wanted to send you a special note thanking you.

The final thank you note I received was from a lovely lady who had me speak at her writer’s class. She asked me to speak at a different class of hers last year, and asked me back for a new one she was teaching this season. The class was filled with excellent writers, all published in some way, who had wonderful questions and made me feel very welcome.

You did it again! You delivered a great and informative talk which everyone in my class remarked about. Many in the class said you were so good and so helpful about giving them encouragement and resources.

Thank you so much for taking the time to come to us. You are a very special person. And so energetic and excited about your endeavors, and its infectious.

I hope our paths cross again and if there is anything I can do for you, please call.

This note made me so happy I felt like everything I had been doing in life was given validation. That’s the power of a thank you note.