One day, as author Carew Papritz was teaching a cursive writing class at the elementary school his son was attending and reading from the book he wrote, “The Legacy Letters,” the idea came to him: what if students could make a letter the size of their school gym? In fall 2018, students from Continental Elementary School and locals—about 700 people—pulled off the stunt, creating a letter 85 feet long by 50 feet wide, with an addressed envelope that was sent to a nearby school. He later filed for a designated day, November 14, to be National Thank You Letter Day. He wants to extend the campaign: he plans to organize a send-off of supplies to Ukraine schoolchildren along with heartfelt letters.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
American Essence: How did the thank you letter project become a reality?
Carew Papritz: We ended up using over 30 rolls of butcher paper. It took us about two months because we had to do it on the weekends. We had to use like 100 rolls of tape. And the most important thing is the number of pizzas. I think there were over 40 pizzas, and you know, like 1,000 cookies, because you have to entice the kids.
AE: Why is it important to teach children gratitude?
Mr. Papritz: I think [these] are the attributes of a thank-you letter: kindness, manners, gratitude, and civility. When you write a letter, it takes time. The most precious gift we have in our life is the time on this planet, then you are literally giving someone that time in a letter. It’s not the same as a text, right? It’s not the same as an email.
In this day and age, people may be seduced by anger, negativity, and all these things, but they’re entranced by kindness. I think kindness is addictive. If you do a kind act, then all of a sudden not only is the person receiving that kindness, [you also] feel good, right? I think that’s one of the pillars of a thank-you letter. It’s such a mutual gift because you feel good about doing it and someone feels great about getting it.
AE: How can these values be taught to the next generation?
Mr. Papritz: It’s funny, teaching my son how to say “please” and “thank you,” I literally had to say it 10,000 times, right? From day one all the way up to now. The repetition of these acts, and definitely every opportunity that you get to be kind and show that kindness in front of your kids—they get it. They’re absorbing it. They’re going, “Oh, that’s how we need to act.” That’s the way we do things and that starts to become part of the norm.
Gratitude is that whole idea of opening up one’s heart. I know it sounds Pollyannaish at times. But gosh, what’s the other choice if not to be like that?
This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
