Etiquette may sound like a bunch of rules that you’re supposed to follow, though at the end of the day, etiquette is simply guidelines for making our personal and professional relationships more relaxed and successful. We are far more likely to feel at ease when we know what others are expecting from us. The use of etiquette when writing a letter, like the etiquette used in other areas, centers around three essential ideas: common sense, civility and practice. Common Sense Common sense is the basis of etiquette. For example, when you’re writing an invitation you need to include the essential information if your want your guests to actually come to the party. They need to know the specifics, like time, date, and location. An invitation, if worded properly, includes all that information and announces it in a way that is to the point and easy to understand. The rules of etiquette are there to help you accomplish just that. Civility When civility is used, relationships are strengthened and become more rewarding. It requires us to be more understanding of others. The guidelines of etiquette might not always seem proper. If the guidelines you’re trying to use seem like they might...Read More
Yourself Letter writing lets you be yourself. It gives you an outlet to express who you are. Choose a style, color, and font for your stationery that reflects you. Using this stationery will say more about you than plain old words ever could. Clever Practice makes perfect in all aspects of life. Letter writing is no different. The more you write the better you’ll be. If you’re still working on becoming a good writer, practice on your friends and family. Confident Keep in mind when writing letters that “it’s not what you say but how you say it.” Nothing could be more true when it comes to letter writing. As you write more you will develop a definitive written voice. You might actually find it easier to express yourself through your writing than through speech. Appreciative You’ve probably all been told about the importance of thank you notes. Birthday presents, graduation gifts, wedding presents, baby gifts are just a few situations that call for thank you notes. But have you ever considered sending a thank you note for the everyday things you’re grateful for? Try thanking someone for their friendship through the years, or a mentor for their support and...Read More
Did you know that as a society we appreciate the effort and consideration that are put in to handwritten notes? When you drop a note in the mail it does more than make someone else’s day, even though that should be reason enough to write the note. Below we’ve listed a few ways that letter writing can help make you a better person. Successful Directly after a job interview you should send the interviewer a sophisticated, professional note thanking them for their time and consideration. Once you’ve landed the job and are starting your climb up the corporate ladder don’t forget to thank the people who have helped you get where you are today. You never know when you’ll need a recommendation or reference, sending them a quick, cordial thank you note will go the extra mile and help keep you in their good graces. So if you do for some reason need a letter of reference from them it will be a good one. Courteous In today’s society most people’s idea of manners leaves a lot to be desired. By using handwritten notes to say “thanks,””congratulations,” or “you’re invited” you’ll be a stunning example of perfect etiquette and common...Read More
Negative emotions can have a serious impact on your mental as well as physical and spiritual health. A psychological benefit of writing is that you can purge these negative emotions from your mind and thereby reduce their toxicity and impact on your overall health. Transferring difficult emotions from the recesses of your brain onto a piece of paper produces other benefits as well. The act of writing hard-to-face thoughts and feelings down can place an emotional distance between the intensity of these emotions and your physical being. Many times this creates a sense of objectivity, which helps you to gain a new perspective on the issues you are facing. With greater objectivity, you may find it easier to come up with achievable solutions for a particular problem. Similar to the muscles of your body, the brain needs lots of regular exercise for optimal functioning and long-term health. Writing stimulates your neural activity. A byproduct of stimulation to the brain is the production and release of natural chemicals your brain and body need in order to function properly. These hormones are also responsible for producing feelings of happiness, contentment, pleasure, excitement, love, and other “feel-good” emotions. Challenging yourself with various writing...Read More
There are numerous health benefits of writing in personal, business, academic, and other aspects in life. However, before exploring some of the ways writing can improve your mood and mental health, briefly consider the mechanics of the brain and mind as that is where our psychological processes take place. The human mind can become overwhelmed and thinking befuddled when presented with massive amounts of information. Stress may escalate especially when all that information is coming into the brain at a fast pace. This kind of pressure causes the majority of the misunderstandings and mistakes that people experience. Your brain is not just receiving information from outside sources. Your mind is constantly creating new information (ideas and perceptions) for your brain to process as well. We are not always consciously aware of this. However, even in sleep, our minds are at work creatively. Whether this information is coming from outside or inside the brain, it also produces feelings, and the brain must process these new feelings. It is therefore understandable why people become confused, lose focus, or have difficulty making decisions with all this activity going on. Writing has the psychological benefit of “releasing” information onto paper or into a computer...Read More
Sending Fold your letter in half. Place the crease at the bottom and the salutation facing the back of the envelope. You may want to place a flower petal or pressed rose in the letter, or perhaps a picture or other small trinket. Consider a splash of the fragrance you wear. Anything that will let your special person know that you went the extra mile to tell them how much they mean to you. Remember that you can never be too sappy when it comes to a Love Letter. Hand address your letter and seal it with more than a kiss. Consider a wax seal with your monogram or even personalized stickers. Make a special trip to the post office for something other than the basic stamp; something with hearts or a cute animal. Place the stamp on upside down. This traditionally means “I love you”. Drop it in the mailbox and you are done! Taking the extra effort to pen a Love Letter on stationery using a timeless ink, neat handwriting, words and expressions of your feelings and love or perhaps her favorite poem, sending it with a special stamp, wax seal, and spraying the pages with a dab...Read More
Writing Start your letter with terms of endearment. “Dear Jane” is not the lead in for a monumental Love Letter. Consider using a pet name, or simply phrasing it “My sweetest Jane”. As with any letter, you will want to state your purpose for writing. Whether your love is far away, you suddenly see your best friend as something more, or the relationship is going well and you cannot keep from bursting at the seams with how much you love this person, start by telling them so. You can be honest and express that you are not sure how to begin or what to say. Mention what the thought of this special person does to you: makes your heart race, ties you up in knots, keeps you awake at night, has you thinking about the future, makes you smile, or frightens you at how much they mean to you so quickly, to name a few. Try to refrain from negatives such as “You must think I am insane” or “I know you do not feel the same”. These statements may be true, but a Love Letter is a statement or confession of love. It is not necessarily a correspondence. Be...Read More
When it comes to love, actions speak louder than words. Show your affections by taking the time to hand write a love note to your sweet. This simple idea is anything but; putting your feelings into words can be very difficult and has proven so for dignitaries, scholars, and poets alike. Here are a few tips to assist you in expressing your thoughts on paper: Appearance First impressions are important, whether it is your first date or a Love Letter you are penning. Understand that your Love Letter may become a keepsake that your mate will treasure for years to come. Therefore this should not be something you scribble down on the nearest scrap piece of paper. Start with your stationery. Select a fine piece in ivory or white so that your words will show up clearly. You may choose to use monogrammed or personalized stationery that has your name on it. Opt for something with matching envelopes, as this will be the finishing touch when you send your letter. Next, use a high quality pen. Use black or brown ink. Avoid blue, green, red, or other colors as you want your words to be clear rather than lost in...Read More
Have you had someone close to you lose someone they loved? Finding the right words to convey what your heart is feeling is sometimes difficult. We hope we can help with that in some small way. Words of sympathy and memory can be extremely meaningful and comforting to those in mourning. Condolence letters will often be read by numerous members of a family, and are often saved for years or placed permanently in family albums. For this reason, while condolence letters will surely be personal, they should also remain somewhat formal. Most importantly, remember that the purpose of your words should be to share memories of the deceased and to express sympathy for the family. See our example letter below: Dear Chloe, I was so sorry to hear the news of your Aunt Sally’s death. I know that she was important part of your life and she will be missed dearly. My heart is filled with sympathy for you and your family during this difficult time. It’s hard to express my condolences from so far away, but please know that I’m thinking of all of you. Aunt Sally was such a light-hearted and loving woman. She always had a smile...Read More
Have you found that your life is busier than ever? In our society, our lives are packed with a variety of activities to keep us going nonstop from dawn to dusk. Our days frequently become filled with routine habits, tasks, and chores. There’s a lot to be said for going to work everyday, taking the kids to soccer practice, and cleaning up around the house. But if you are like most people, you probably also crave a little “me” time every now and then. Though a trip to the spa or a day at the beach might sound like a great treat, let us suggest somethng a bit more simple and thoughtful. Try an evening of reading, writing, and relaxation. Pour yourself a hot cup of tea and instead of grabbing that book you have fallen asleep to every night for the past week, try reading a little history. No…not a history book – your history. Many people have a shoe box or a box of keepsakes buried in the closet or tucked away under the bed. There are a lot of wonderful memories out there in the letters of days gone by. Maybe you’II find that first love letter from...Read More
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