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.

Add Some Quotes…

  • The only way to have a friend is to be one - Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • "It takes a long time to grow an old friend" - John Leonard
  • "A friend will never be in your way, unless you're falling down." - Anonymous
  • "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." - Oscar Wilde

Or if you fancy something a bit more light hearted why not stick a funny quote in, like this one we've found;

  • "A friend is someone who will bail you out of jail. A best friend is the one sitting next to you saying "boy was that fun." - The Maugles

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.

Handwritten on good paper - 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.

Make your own? - Why not go the extra mile and make your own thank your card? By hand crafting your own card you're adding extra sentiment and gratitude - and your friend will appreciate the extra time and effort you've put in. It doesn't take long to make your own card and it doesn't have to be over the top or done on the computer. The best home made cards are simple and personal. You can purchase packs of ready folded cards and envelopes - which saves time on trying to perfectly fold your card only to find it won't fit in the envelope.

A Make Your Own Idea...

Here's an idea for making your own thank you card for a good friend:

  • Use a small photograph of the two of you together
  • Mount the photograph on a coloured piece of card and stick it in the centre of the thank you card
  • Then either decorate around it with some craft supplies or leave it plain and simple

This is a basic idea but you can be as creative as you like. For inspiration you could always look at some of the thank you card available to buy or visit a craft shop as they will have lots of great ideas and booklets on how to create your own cards.

Addresses etc

There is no need to format these letters formally with both the writer's and recipient's address details included, nor is it necessary 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 great for friend's thank you letter.

Example Thank You Letter for Being a Good Friend

#todaysdate#

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 got 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

If you're embarrassed about sending a random letter to your friend...why not include it as a note in a birthday or Christmas card? Perhaps you could arrange to meet up and share a meal or spa day them to celebrate a certain number of years that you've known each other. You could include the note in with the invitation.

Just add something in, before the last line, like: "SO...to celebrate the fact that we've now known each other for twenty five years, I've booked a meal at X restaurant - my treat"

Thanking a Neighbour

If you are fortunate enough to have a neighbour you count as a good friend, you may wish to send them a thank you letter, too. Read our article Thank You For Being a Good Neighbour to help you compose the perfect letter.