Dear LPG, 

Each of us has experienced many changes over our lifetimes, and I suspect that readers of this website know that more than any other section of the population, because of all the people in the world we are more likely to have seen more of them happen, even though it all happens so subtly that we often don’t notice. 

Many will agree that the most crucial aspect of existence is the interaction between its people, and the harsh things we do to each other is more than evident. We just have to look at history books to know that. 

We may know about them more these days because we have news broadcasts to keep us up to date, but have you noticed just how busy we can be disagreeing with each other? There always seems to be a conflict in progress in some part of the world, while the violence, which is reported on a smaller scale each day, is also evident. 

But then there are the times when we do try to be nice to each other. Most religions have a festival that includes present giving. I can remember all the birthday and Christmas presents that I have been given over the years, but as we get older, it gets harder to find the right thing for some of our friends, and so many of us feel the need to impress with expensive gifts.  

In my opinion, one group of gifts that we don’t offer as often as we should is praise and acknowledgement when someone does something they did not have to to help you out.

We say thank you as one of those phrases that slip off the tongue as second nature. It is true that we are really unlikely to meet the person who picks up the tin that you dropped in the supermarket and hands it back to you again, but when it comes to your friends who go above and beyond, I wonder if the old-fashioned practice of offering a more permanent reminder of gratitude is something worth considering more often.

The thank you cards we see these days are more likely to be received as a result of a gift you have given at a wedding or other celebration where it is deemed appropriate, and that is good. However, a very personal aspect, such as a message on a pre-printed card, can miss the point somewhat. Fewer people tend to get married these days. Receiving one because you sent a present, though appreciated, is the tip of the ‘thank you’ iceberg.  

I am a bit lazy about it these days because a quick thank-you WhatsApp is much more convenient, but a handwritten message means so much more.  They don’t get lost when you change phones, and we pensioners risk quickly becoming the most significant section of people who still employ a sheet of paper, a pen, and a handwritten message of genuine heartfelt thanks.

FB, Honor Oak