Want to be Classy?

I was a young girl when Jacqueline Kennedy was the First Lady living in the White House. Much was made of her appearance and her fashion statements. She set the trend for women. As the years went by, her influence went deeper. She was applauded for her skill as a single mother, she went to work as an editor and she was given credit for her achievements as well as her beauty.

She had a passion for writing. Not only as an editor, but in her personal life as well. Her love of a hand-written note was her signature of sorts. People who were close to her said she left a box of stationery on her desk when she attended social affairs to remind herself to send a thank you note within 24 hours of the function.

She was a firm believer that a note needed to be hand-written to give the recipient the proper respect that was deserved after hosting a get-together. Her note would express appreciation for the invitation and the event, but she would also use the note as an opportunity to convey how she felt about that person.

Jackie said back then that proper etiquette was becoming less and less important and she felt a hand written letter was one way to insure that proper habits were in place.

If Jacqueline Kennedy, as First Lady, found time to write notes of appreciation and personal correspondence, I am encouraged to keep a box of stationery on my desk as well. I have heard it said that sending a thank you note is a touch of class. I would challenges all of us women to strive for proper etiquette by sending personal notes and thank you cards...not only because it is the classy thing to do, but because it is the right thing to do as well.