Thank you. Kindly. Sincerely. Best. Regards. Best Regards. Thanks!
There are a number of ways to close an email; many times I go with the standard, “Thanks!” just before the block of pre-populated text with my name, title, and contact information. It’s so automatic, almost mechanical. It’s like the compulsory finish to nearly any note. But how often are we really thanking someone in an email?
The way I see it, there are more opportunities to show gratitude than any one person could ever employ. I bid a respectful effort in writing hand-written notes as much as possible—once per day as a part of the Year of Gratitude, as etiquette requires it, and when I am inspired by the immense good I see in the world. Yet, I often fall short. Maybe you know the feeling.
So, I am trying to saturate my life as much as possible with gratitude. Plug it in wherever it will fit, so that it becomes integrated into my life. Every day I write emails—anywhere from one to more than I care to count. Knowing this, I am challenging myself to include sincere and specific gratitude in my email vernacular beyond the simple “Thanks!” adjournment I’ve been using.
Maybe you can join me in this challenge. Thank someone you’re emailing in a specific way—for something they’ve done for you, for brining something important to the project you are working on together, or even for something incredible they’re doing in circles you are not a part of. It has already changed the way I work, and I believe it will bless your life as well.
Beth Armstrong, Director of Welcoming Ministries
