DEAR MISS MANNERS: What do you do when the duty to write thank-you notes overwhelms any genuine sense of gratitude? In my own upbringing, reciprocity and eagerness to give were prized over the finer points of expressing gratitude, and I confess that my gratitude muscle has suffered as a result. I am trying to strengthen it by practicing writing thank-you cards, starting with large events, such as my wedding and baby shower.

The endeavor has now lasted a couple of years, and I still have not finished with the thank-yous for either one. Meanwhile, other holidays, birthdays and events have come and gone, and while I do try to thank each gift-giver verbally, whether in person or on the phone, writing notes for each gift just seems like too much to be done during an already busy phase of life

See Full Page