A handwritten note or card can express one’s gratitude, thankfulness, care, or encouragement and has not gone extinct even in this age of technology. Just think about the last time you received a personal handwritten note from someone. You may have gotten emails, texts, or posts relating to the same event and you appreciated it all but isn’t there just something a little extra special about receiving a written note?
4-H helps youth develop life skills. Life skills are those competencies (measurable or observable knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors) that assist people in functioning well in the environments in which they live. Life skills are transferable which makes them different from task specific skills like tying a bow or knot.
As Valentine's Day approaches, many of us may be thinking all about hearts. The second H in 4-H stands for the Heart - "I pledge my heart...". If we look at the 4-H life skills wheel, the Heart has two life skills subcategories; caring and relating. The specific life skills under caring are empathy, sharing, nurturing relationships, and concern for others. Youth need an opportunity to demonstrate these skills throughout the year.
This takes us back to the handwritten note and your call to action to cultivate the art of note writing in our youth and give them another outlet of expressing the life skills connected to the second H in 4-H.
I challenge you all to grab paper, markers, glue, scissors, and anything else you'd like to use to make a card. Use these materials to write someone a well thought out note, or card. Thank them for encouraging you to push harder. Thank them for supporting you in a project you've been working on. Let them know how they've benefited you. Thank you notes should be specific, personalized, and authentic. When you've completed your card, be sure to give it to this special person.
