As a child my mom taught me to say “Thank You” after someone did something kind ( especially after I was given a gift). As an adult, a simple thank you has not lost its power. Showing gratitude to others makes you feel good but also shows them that you appreciate them. There are so many ways to say thank you and I realize that it can be challenging to find the perfect way to express your appreciation to someone. Let’s cover three effective ways to say thank you that are intentional and memorable.

LEARN THE RECIPIENTS LOVE LANGUAGE

Expressing gratitude is not a one size fits all venture. One tool that I have found effective when planning a thank you is The 5 Love Languages Quiz. If you have never heard of it, the 5 Love Languages were developed by Dr. Gary Chapman and they categorize the 5 unique ways that make people feel the most loved. Most people tend to show love and gratitude based on their love language but the problem with that is that the way you receive love may not be the same way the person best receives it. If you are not aware fo their love language your acts of love may get lost in translation! Knowing the love language of the person receiving your “thank you” makes your gesture more thoughtful and meaningful. The Love Languages are broken up into 5 categories:

• Words Of Affirmation

• Gifts

• Acts Of Service

• Quality Time

• Physical Touch

You can learn what your top love languages are by taking this quiz. Once you determine what the person's top love languages are you can begin to plan how to best show gratitude to them. For example, if their top love language is Words Of Affirmation you may want to write them a letter or verbally shower them with words of gratitude. You can also get creative an

GIVE THOUGHTFUL + PERSONALIZED GIFTS

Most people respond well to gifts that they can tell had a lot of thought put into them. One way to make sure that your gift is memorable is to make sure that it reflects the personality of the person receiving it. To find out what they like, listen closely to the little things that they mention during casual conversations and consider their style, hobbies, and favorite things. Examples include monogrammed bags or engraved jewelry and for a more low key option…get them a slice of their favorite cake their favorite bakery.

Personalization gives you the chance to infuse their personality and identity into the gift. As an example, a received this ceramic container (pictured above) with the letter L on it as a Christmas gift last year. The personalized touch let me know that the person was thinking of me and considering my style which this gift reflected effortlessly. If you are having a hard time choosing a personalized gift then ask yourself questions such as What do they Like?, What have they been mentioning that they wanted?, and What do they need? Sites like Vista Print and Things Remembered have all sorts of customized gifts from coffee mugs and t-shirts to engraved liquor flasks and photo frames which make giving a personalized gift so easy.

WRITE THEM A HAND WRITTEN NOTE

Remember when we had Pen Pals? Remember the excitement of opening an envelope to read a note from someone and how impactful that was?In my opinion, putting pen to paper to say thank you is one of the most traditional yet most slept on ways to say thank you. In a digital world where texting and social media make up the majority of how we communicate, taking the extra time to send a hand-written message is an unexpected and appreciated gesture.

When I want to get extra fancy and really make an impression I send thank you cards . Thank you cards are a classy way to show your appreciation to someone. I customize my thank you cards online using Basic Invite which is a site that allows you to create truly custom cards and invites for every occasion. You can create everything from unique college graduation announcements, to wedding invitations, custom stationary (like thank you cards and more.

If you are interested in trying out Basic Invite be sure to check them out or follow them on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter. Basic Invite made it super easy for me to create thank you cards and stationery that fit my modern yet classic aesthetic. Stationary is a great gift especially if the person you have in mind has a business or enjoys stationary. Not only is sending someone a hand-written thank you note thoughtful, it is a small gesture that makes a huge statement that will leave an everlasting positive impression.

Last but not least remember that you do not have to save gestures of gratitude for special occasions. Let your loved ones know that you are grateful for them often, especially in the times that we are currently in. I hope that these three tips helped you to brainstorm new ways to say “ thank you” to the people you care for. I want to hear from you! Let me know your favorite way to show gratitude in the comments below. Speaking of gratitude, thank you for your support!

I leave you in Love, Peace, and Style,

Lonnie