As a child I hated them, but as an adult I’m positively addicted to handwritten notes. You so much as hug me on a bad day or surprise me with a soy latté, and you can bet you’re getting one.
    I’m a little embarrassed to admit it (and friends make fun of me for it!), but the urge to send notes overtakes me so often that during the year of my wedding prep, Mom actually asked me to stop mailing them to her.
    “Can’t you just keep track of whatever it is nice you think I’ve done for you, and then send me one at the end of the year?” she pleaded. No dice, lady. You’re getting some word love the good, old-fashioned, pen-and-paper way.    
    And I’m not just talking about sending notes for tangible, holiday gifts although those are always nice. These notes of which I speak address the “eye of the beholder” offerings.
    Did someone build up your confidence when you really needed it? Did a mentor make your day? Did you have a meaningful conversation with a new business colleague? Or a fabulous lunch with an old friend? These are “gifts” for your soul and are deserving of some thanks!
    Don’t get me wrong. I’m passionate about technology, and there’s nothing wrong with sending a sincere email. But to me, an electronic message simply doesn’t usher in the same warm-fuzzy as a handwritten one.
    For starters, you get about 748 emails a day. Twice that many if you’ve declared you are going on vacation. Email can be predictable; snail mail guarantees surprise.
    “E-mail may have revolutionized our communication, making it faster, easier and more practical, but that doesn’t mean the handwritten note is dead,” says Associated Press journalist Jocelyn Noveck. “Instead, the act of putting pen to paper seems to have gained in currency. Now, it’s what you do to say something special or heartfelt or really important.”
    Don’t worry; your hand-crafted “hiya” doesn’t have to boast a weighty message or perfect grammar. It doesn’t have to be long or deliver breaking news. It only needs to be thoughtful and sincere.
    Well, OK. There’s one more thing it needs to be, and that’s timely. I try not to wait more than three days when putting a thank-you pen to paper. Some of the excitement might wear off if weeks go by before the note is written, ya’ know?
    A handwritten note, if anything, is memorable. It’s the kind of mail you keep because you want to, not because you need the save-the-date reminder or liner for your birdcage.
    And who doesn’t like to get mail? A note from a friend peeking out of that stack of bills is an automatic mood-lifter.
    Oh! Let’s not forget about the power of the handwritten business note. These set you apart from the crowd as they rarely pop up in business folks’ mailboxes anymore. When’s the last time you received one?
    The business note should be a tad shorter than your personal prose and is a great follow-up after drinks with a colleague or that pitch to a prospect. It’s a sincere way of thanking a co-worker who goes above and beyond the call of duty.
    No matter your relationship, the recipient of a handwritten message recognizes that you set aside a few minutes of your busy day to write, address, stamp and send your thoughts.
    Don’t force it, of course. But if you usually dole out your heart-felt appreciation via email, challenge yourself this month to pen a few handwritten notes that aren’t holiday gift-related. You’ll never be sorry you took the time to write. Besides, it’s a great excuse to buy cute stationery!