Send a smile!

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26 NATIONAL THANK-YOU NOTE DAY

When we asked etiquette expert Diane Gottsman of The Protocol School of Texas for the secret to writing a sincere thank-you note, she shared this “time-tested” formula: “Include a line or two thanking them for their kindness and specifically mentioning the gift,” she advises. “Then give details on how much the effort meant to you

or how you intend to use the item.” For example, Thank you for the beautiful bouquet. It brightens my foyer and brings a smile to my face every time I pass by. Not a gift you can use? “Thank them for the thought,” says Gottsman. “Write: ‘You clearly put a lot of thought into this gift. I appreciate your thinking of me.’”