The Powerful Pen

Something Really Unexpected
I had a wonderful experience with the power of a handwritten note.  I had to have eye surgery.  While in many ways it was routine, I was a bit freaked out as it was “eye” surgery.  I took great pains to select a competent surgeon.  I primarily used internet resources to gain a sense of his competence.  Well, the day came, and thankfully everything went well.  Now my vision is significantly improved.

Several weeks later a small envelope appeared in our mailbox with the surgeons return address on it.  I assumed it was the bill, but when I opened it my jaw dropped.  It was a handwritten note thanking me for choosing him as my doctor.  I was dumbfounded.  If your experience with medicine has been anything like mine, communication from a doctor or hospital is usually “you still owe us money.” (That came later.) Not once, in my life have I received a personal note from a doctor.  His handwritten note had a huge impact.  Now, even more, I will recommend him to anyone I know who has an eye issue.

Not a text, not an email but an old fashioned handwritten note.  Journalist and humorist Willie Geist once wrote, "I'm pretty sure people are going to start writing letters again once the email fad passes."  We know now that that didn’t happen; in-fact the email gave way to the text.  If you want to communicate with impact, try writing a handwritten note and see if you don’t become a believer.