Post the link to your blogged slice before the start of class on the due date (Thursdays = Creative Writing; Fridays = 9th Honors).
Always, always, always take the time to hand-write a "thank you" note to people who have done something for you.
While the precipitating event may be a quick gesture of kindness or generosity, or your recognition of a lasting influence and support that this friend has been to you, “Thank You” notes are a tangible, hold-in-their-hand way for those who you appreciate to see, read, and reread at their leisure your acknowledgment of their giving. My blog’s tagline (see top-right panel alongside this post) is “I think; when I write, I remember…” and it conveys the function of a “Thank You” note by being more that a fleeting “Thanks!” uttered in the chaos of moving life; a written note is an opportunity to be more articulate, detailed, and perhaps even persuasively genuine in the “thank you” you give back to the person who helped, treated, or was good to you in any of the innumerable ways to be kind to someone.
I took a time-out while writing the twenty-eight “Thank You” notes for the shower in Chicago to snap the picture for this week’s slice of the three designs of cards I picked out to use as baby shower “Thank Yous” – I love when the idea for a slice comes forth naturally without the “Uh! What am I gonna write about this week?”-jitters of needing a topic immediately.
And even though, when I was little, nothing could have seemed more tedious or daunting than the prospect of writing ten birthday or Christmas TY notes, I'm glad writing "Thank You" notes is something my mom insisted that my brother and I do, because I now see the act of composing, addressing, and finally putting the notecards in the mail as an action of fully accepting the gift or act of kindness and appreciating it for the generosity of the giver I'm thanking; a thoughtful "Thank You" note allows the act of giving to come full-circle and reciprocates the care shown by the person I'm writing to thank.
As I shared aloud during class, I carry a very thoughtful "Thank You" note from a former student in a pocket of my purse as a silent beacon of "You're good enough; you're smart enough; and, gosh darn it, people like you..." for times when I'm feeling less than my most confident or capable adult-self. Use your words to give back.