Thank You Letter for Being a Good Friend

Good friends make life easier, but because they seem ever-present it can be easy to take them for granted. Writing a good friend a thank you letter is one way to let him or her know that (s)he is so highly valued, and why.

Content of a Thank You Letter for Being a Good Friend

Every friendship is unique, so every thank you letter for being a good friend should be too. The contents of these letters will depend upon how the friends interact, how often the friends see each other and what kind of things the friends do for or with each other. For example, a good friend who lives far away may receive a thank you letter for keeping in touch that also contains a message of hope that the friends will see each other again soon. A good friend who lives in the local area may receive a thank you letter for organising the last night out and for always being the one to get the letter writer out of the house. Sometimes such letters may be written even if nothing has happened lately that requires thanking. These letters may contain a note of thanks to the friend simply for being a friend or for being who (s)he is. These letters can be harder to write because there is no concrete event or action to draw on, but they are also the types of letters that are treasured for years to come.

Format of a Thank You Letter for Being a Good Friend

A thank you letter for being a good friend is a close, personal letter. If at all possible it should be handwritten on nice paper or notecard. These letters could be included in a commercial thank you card or e-card, but if the main message is not written by the friend (but rather a card company) then the impact of the card may be lost. It is not appropriate to format these letters formally with both the writer's and recipient's address details included, nor is it appropriate to use formal, stilted salutations and closings if the writer and recipient are close. These letters could be sent by email if friends are far apart or the writer wants the message delivered immediately, but these letters make better keepsakes when they are written out by hand. Postal and hand delivery are both appropriate for a thank you letter for being a good friend.

Sample of a Thank You Letter for Being a Good Friend

12 January, 2008

Dear Sharon,

It isn't often that I say this, but I wanted to thank you for being such a good friend. You are always around when I need you, always willing to listen when I need to talk, and always ready to organise something fun when I need a break. You are one of the most important people in my life, and when I count my blessings I always think of you. I don't think I could have gotten through the last few years without you. Through the break-ups and career changes and home moves you were always around to lend a hand and tell a joke. I appreciate that more than you know.

Thank you again for being such a great person and wonderful friend.

Love,

Danielle