Affirming people through thoughtful handwritten communication is such a powerful and effective tool for relating to one another. I once had a boss who kept a stack of note cards in his desk and regularly wrote notes to thank his employees. The one I received motivated me to do the same for those who reported to me. The impact was huge. It was far greater then if I had sent them an email with the same words.
Ralph Marston puts it this way, "Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it."
