An Intro to Letters of Gratitude
The phrase "Letter of Gratitude" is somewhat self-explanatory, but it's not part of the common vernacular. During the Q&A portion of a speaking presentation, I have often been asked, how does a letter of gratitude differ from a thank you note? In my opinion, a thank you note is sent for a specific reason. In other words, you are responding to someone who gave you a gift, made an important introduction, had you over for dinner, hosted you at a party, etc.
However a letter of gratitude, at least in most cases, isn’t sent for any one reason specifically. Instead, it's sent to someone to whom you feel gratitude in general. That’s the primary difference. Here are three examples from different areas and times of my life that showcase how I write letters of gratitude.
A Letter to Dan
Dan Shepherd, a colleague, mentor and friend, received the first Letter of Gratitude I ever wrote. The letter is undated, but it was written sometime in early November of 2013. I wrote it on a lark, as an intellectual exercise, and had absolutely no inkling at that time that there would ever be a second letter written, much less well in excess of two hundred more!
A Letter to Pete & Alice
Pete & Alice Dye were absolutely instrumental in my golf writing career. My biography of Pete, one of golf's greatest course architects and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, garnered plenty of attention. It sold robustly and helped propel me to meatier assignments, additional book contracts, and raised my profile in the industry. Theirs was probably the 80th or 90th letter I wrote. Sadly, they are now both deceased.
A Letter to Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn Taylor is a delightful young woman who has become important to my wife and I in a relatively short period of time. I wrote her this letter in honor of a recent birthday. It is approximately the 230th Letter of Gratitude I've had the pleasure to write, and one of the most recent.