The One Thing You Should Always Have in Your House.....Huff Post:

[Stuart G]

If there's one thing you should let collect dust in your home, it's thank you cards. Why? One word: gratitude.

The function of a thank you note goes beyond just "thanking" someone for a housewarming gift or birthday present. Rather, such a note can serve as a heartfelt message that shows people you care about that they are meaningful to you. Whether it's your best friend who let you crash at her apartment for a weekend or your plumber, anyone can use a good dose of thanks.

As study after study shows, gratitude is actually pretty powerful, with benefits for people on either end of the equation. According to the UC Berkley Greater Good Science Center, giving thanks can boost the immune system. It's also known to promote a good night of sleep and make you feel less lonely.

While we don't want to encourage you to mindlessly hoard items in your home, we do believe in the idea of purposefully collecting cards. Their presence in your home will remind you to express gratitude, and make it easier for you to do so.

So the next time you're at the dollar section of Target, notice card sets on sale after the holidays, or spot a really fancy set of stationery that catches your eye, pick them up and keep them in a drawer. You never know when you'll have to say thanks next, but we can guess that it'll be pretty darn soon.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/collect-cards-all-the-time_n_5696a6d4e4b0ce496422ed15

[madaboutharry]

1. The problem is that if people even bother to say thank you, they now do it by text.

I always send a thank you note when it is appropriate. Though, I can't remember the last time I received one. I have gotten back texts or IMs and in all fairness they have been heartfelt. But, there is nothing like getting one to hold in your hand.

[highplainsdem]

2. Thanks, Stuart! Great suggestion!

[niyad]

3. I agree, except for the collecting dust part. Isn't the point of the article that

such cards should be USED, not gathering dust?