Recently, my husband and I dedicated a day to clearing out a storage unit that we had had for over six years. (Note: anytime you have to rent a storage unit for more than a short stint, it’s a clue you have too much sh*t.) 🙃

So, there we were discovering that rolled-up rugs tend to rot and stacks of pictures self-adhere, making them impossible blobs to thumb through. Turns out kids and friends don’t want your old IKEA furniture and mishmash of coffee mugs or orphan barstools. Our team of movers hit the jackpot (well, at least they acted as if they did).

Not everything in this unit was a bust. Rather, I discovered a bin of memorabilia from my days (uh…decades) at Resource Interactive. Something stood out to me among the old company brochures, business cards, and media coverage: thank you notes.

In one folder, I had saved thank-you notes from colleagues, my manager, my business partner, and clients. The written words of appreciation meant something special to me. And back then, I couldn’t bring myself to carelessly toss their words of thoughtfulness into the trash. Years later, I still can’t.

I also found a stack of index cards – about three inches tall, neatly stacked, with a piece of twine securing them. “RI:08” was on the upper left corner of the top card and “thank you” in the middle, setting the stage for something. But what exactly? I struggled to remember.

Then, as I sat on the dirty concrete floor of the storage unit, slowly poring through each card, my memories crept their way into the present moment. Yes, yes, 2008! It’s all coming back to me!

In January of 2008, we had gathered for the company’s annual meeting–a ceremonious event we all looked forward to and an outsized effort to produce. We used this day-long meeting to celebrate the previous year and prepare for the upcoming one. These thank-you cards stirred my memory: In 2007, the agency’s revenue had grown by 65%; we added numerous Fortune 100 clients and hired more staff, and my second book, The Open Brand, was on the cusp of release. We also paid out sizable bonuses. It was quite a year indeed!

The emotional highlight of the meeting each year was our founder and me handing out the bonus checks. With each handshake or hug (which wasn’t weird back then), we verbally expressed thank-yous to each person, acknowledging something they uniquely contributed to the company’s success. As they came forward to accept their bonus check, we also handed them a thank-you note we had written to each of them. (Yes, we hand-wrote them even as the company grew to the hundreds of employees.)

But in that specific year, 2008, our colleagues–over 200 people–surprised the two of us. THEY wrote US thank-you notes. Every single one of them expressed their gratitude in their own words, their own handwriting, in their own way. Some drew pictures, some wrote only a few words, while others filled both sides with gratitude.

Reading their words, seeing their names, remembering their contributions to the company, to the culture, and our collective success, my eyes welled with tears. What a special time. What a special group of people. What a special company we were building. How lucky was I?

Then, in that moment. I had a thank you to express. I knew the one person who made this happen 18 years ago. To collect all of those cards and turn them into a precious gift, there was only one person. It was our assistant who quietly and cheerfully made everything happen. Even though we now live states away and haven’t seen each other in years, I immediately dashed off a text to him with a picture of these cards and a “Just found these… omg…THANK YOU!💚”

Sometimes a text fits the moment. A text was my way of saying thank you and rekindling the relationship. To say hello and to start a new string of updates.

But sometimes, a text is insufficient.

When was the last time you wrote a thank-you card?

I intentionally practice the lost art of note-writing after receiving a holiday gift or attending a dinner party at someone’s home, especially if we have just met. It might seem outdated or folksy to some, but I enjoy doing it. Perhaps it’s because I also enjoy receiving thank-you cards; I enjoy opening hand-addressed mail. I value the effort that goes into them. I like reading the words someone feels inspired to jot down. And I like saving them.

Yes, a text is easier and faster. Especially for close friends or family. Or when instantaneousness is the goal of the sender. But what about other moments? What is more satisfying to the receiver? What stops them in their tracks? What gives them a lasting impression? What best portrays the heartfelt message you want to send? What best marks the moment?

Think about those questions the next time you:

• Are an overnight guest in someone’s home for the first time
• Experience a lovely dinner that you didn’t pay for
• Have coffee with a mentor who has offered career guidance
• Interview for a job you really want
• Receive a holiday, birthday, or graduation, engagement, baby, or wedding gift

And even if you’re “busy” or not the type to handwrite thank you notes, make time and do it anyway. Over the last couple of years, we have attended the wedding of several young couples in their 20s and 30s and gave each a sizeable cash gift. None of them sent a thank you note–even one year later. (And if you’re wondering, not even a text.)

Going forward, how will you choose to express your gratitude? As always, it’s up to you.

You are equipt to reclaim the power (and joy) of thank you.