Technology is great. Being able to send a quick text to say hi or thank someone for something is a wonderful thing. Being able to shoot someone an email to ask for a favor, or using Facetime to talk to someone far away is also a wonderful thing; however I think with all of these options today we are losing the art of thank you notes.

Getting mail is like a roller coaster. When you are a young child, getting mail is one of the most exciting things! Every day you walk down the mailbox holding your dad's hand and dig through the letters to find nothing with your name on it. On those rare days when you saw your name printed largely and clearly on that top line you felt overjoyed; someone sent you a letter! This soon fades away, and you expect the brightly colored envelopes around the holiday times and seeing your name is less exciting when it is on the top line of a bill as you grow older. College is different time. Getting mail is just as exciting as it was when you were a small child. Being away from home makes those small letters from parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins help you to feel at home. Post college mail is much less exciting. Mostly bills with the occasional magazine or birthday card. However mail then comes around in full swing for the elderly. You don’t really get bills anymore, and your children and grandchildren are grown, and getting mail becomes exciting again.

Thank you notes are not the only thing lost in this 21st century world. Hand written letters are a thing of the past all together, and now its more common the send something made on Shutterfly than to add the personal touch. A young man on a first date is more likely to honk or shoot you a text to say he's outside, rather than coming to the door at all. Opening doors for others should still exist, writing a letter to your mom to say you love her should still exist, family game night should still exist. When you walk into a restaurant, you are more likely to see a toddler using their parents phone while two teens sit and tweet, as their parents sit and talk about their day. Family dinners are important, life is short, talk to each other.

As the holiday season approaches, keep this in mind. Thank you notes, saying thank you, sending love. Some things are better kept tech-free.