Yes, that’s the point of a handwritten note: to make someone else feel good about themselves. (And, this is very much a secondary point, but, in turn, that may have a positive effect back on you, the writer of the note.)

Thanks for sharing that great proverb, Kristina!

Another favorite of mine on gratitude: “Gratitude is the least of virtues, but ingratitude the worst of vices.” -French proverb

Thanks for writing my favorite blog!

That’s a great rule to have, Kim. And I like the way you reinforce it by requiring people to go back for REPEAT applauding if they try to rush away. Smart!

Yup – good point. When email became the dominant practice, I just added it to the contact media I use (rather than replace it, although blogs are a different beast)

Indeed. Correspondence among major scientists, artists and literati (the humanities) has been a crucial source of original data for research and has served as an avenue of dialogue and discussion among peers that advances research in the field.

Email messages are not the same as hardcopy messages, although they can serve as a useful stand-in. The former lack style, tone and discipline: they’re too easy to write, retract and rewrite. And their content is too easy to copy.

Thanks for phrasing that so nicely, Elizabeth: It’s important we learn to do both as graciously as possible.

I’m so glad you’ve joined, Laura — look forward to interacting with you there.