Guesting: Saying Thanks

I’ve had a great view of a variety of guests. I’ve had guests that made me cry to say good-bye to. I’ve had guests who made me cry on purpose. I’ve begged people to stay longer and I’ve invited people to leave. Here are just a few thoughts.

Good guests say “thank you!”

I’m sure you say all the right things at the end of your visit. “We’ve had a lovely time.” “It was so kind of you to take such care of us.” “Sorry for the hole we put in the wall…” Nothing makes the sentiment stick like putting it in writing. Here’s the problem, LIFE! When you get home from your trip you are confronted by a mega-load of laundry, all the dishes you didn’t wash before you left for your trip and you need to get groceries. Basically, you need to carry on with your life. You mean to sit down and write a lovely and heart-felt card, but nobody has “correspondence writing time” blocked out in their schedule these days. You don’t get the card done in the first week home. You feel that you absolutely should get it done by the second week. And then it’s just awkward, so you don’t.

Skip the mortification. Buy a little box of thank you cards and store it in your suitcase. Take it with you wherever you go and you’ll never need to mail one. Leave a sweet note behind, about your favorite memory from your visit. As they come into your old room to wash the sheets and clean up, they’ll find your card. Just pack it in your luggage and you’ll have it ready.

A note about the best notes….

Signing your name doesn’t cut it. If someone has gone out of their way to host you, go out of your way to say something nice.

At a loss for words? Here are some ideas:

Tell them what your favorite meal was, mention that you like the smell of their fabric softener, thank them for the airport pickup, mention that nice walk you took in the sunshine, compliment their beautiful garden, praise their well-behaved (or at least well fed) children. Nope, you shouldn’t go on and on. Yes, you should make it clear that your time with them was memorable in a positive way.

What’s the best way to encourage people to host? Be a good guest!