It’s Never too Late to Send a Thank You Card

Etiquette allows for up to a year to send a thank you card, but what if it’s been longer than that?

When it came time to write a thank you note to my aunt for opening her home to me while I finished my culinary externship at America’s Test Kitchen in Boston, I choked, fell flat, froze, and procrastinated. I tried for days to convey my gratitude on paper, but no words seemed to capture how truly thankful I was feeling.

Days turned into months; before I knew it, over a year had gone by. I debated, at that point, if I should even bother sending anything at all.

The answer was, of course, YES!

Instead of trying to find the words to express how I was feeling, I began the thank you note by confessing words were simply failing me because none seemed strong enough to convey my gratitude. After that, the rest of the thank you note was easy to write.

“Auntie, it’s taken me so long to write this note to you because I simply couldn’t find the words to express how much I appreciate you opening your home to me last summer…”

And just like that, a year-ish later, a thoughtful, heartfelt thank you note was in the mail.

So, if you ever get stuck like I did, tell the person you’re having trouble finding the right words to express whatever it is you’re trying to express, even if it’s been a year or more. It’s never too late to say thank you.

For more ideas on how to write the perfect thank you card, try using my easy thank you card formula, with examples for any occasion.