How can I say say "thank you," "I love you," and "you changed my life in every way for the better"?
April 16, 2010 6:23 AM Subscribe
How can I say say "thank you," "I love you," and "you changed my life in every way for the better"? The catch: it's for an organization of a few dozen people which I will soon no longer be able to participate in as I will be moving.
I'm in a creative arts organization that I won't be able to participate in anymore, as I will be moving. We are incredibly tight-knit--I spend generally all of my free time with these people--and I have one week to plan something special to share with them. I'd like to make them some sort of keepsake(s), whether it be a memory (via creative project), or a furnishing of sorts (we have a building), or something individual/personal (e.g. a letter or poem). I have a week to prepare my farewell and up to an hour to present it. The problem? I just can't think of what to do. In the past, people have made photo boxes, cross-stitched images, slideshows, a poster collage. I'd like to do something that can be remembered and treasured, as this group has been a safe space for me to totally transform as a person over the years. Can you suggest any ideas?
I'm in a creative arts organization that I won't be able to participate in anymore, as I will be moving. We are incredibly tight-knit--I spend generally all of my free time with these people--and I have one week to plan something special to share with them. I'd like to make them some sort of keepsake(s), whether it be a memory (via creative project), or a furnishing of sorts (we have a building), or something individual/personal (e.g. a letter or poem). I have a week to prepare my farewell and up to an hour to present it. The problem? I just can't think of what to do. In the past, people have made photo boxes, cross-stitched images, slideshows, a poster collage. I'd like to do something that can be remembered and treasured, as this group has been a safe space for me to totally transform as a person over the years. Can you suggest any ideas?
This may be completely unhelpful, but when I was in a similar situation (leaving an organization full of people I really loved), because I was moving across the country, I took my near 1,000 CD collection, ripped the entire thing and backed it up multiple times, and then gave the entire thing away to the group.
It was a music organization, full of music lovers such as myself, and while the thought just came to me more as a convenience (hey, this is a nice way to say thank you, and I don't have to worry about schlepping this huge, heavy collection across the country again!), it turned out to be, I think the best thing I could have done.
I just made an announcement that they were all available and everybody went, picked through it, and got what they wanted. I set aside a few things for people that I knew they'd love that they might not have ever heard. I had CDs that I'd bought when I was 11 and 12, some of them had hilarious notes in the margins of the liner notes. It was a great conversation starter, and a great way to say goodbye to each individual person who came by without awkwardness. This organization had made such a significant impact on my life that it was completely worth it.
So, this long story is essentially to tell you, if this is a creative organization, consider letting something that's a major part of you go to them, if you think it would be valuable to them. I'm not clear on the nature of the creative organization, but perhaps something that's precious to you that you don't actually need anymore. Old painting materials? An old typewriter? An old camera? Neither you nor they will ever forget it!
posted by pazazygeek at 7:04 AM on April 16, 2010
It was a music organization, full of music lovers such as myself, and while the thought just came to me more as a convenience (hey, this is a nice way to say thank you, and I don't have to worry about schlepping this huge, heavy collection across the country again!), it turned out to be, I think the best thing I could have done.
I just made an announcement that they were all available and everybody went, picked through it, and got what they wanted. I set aside a few things for people that I knew they'd love that they might not have ever heard. I had CDs that I'd bought when I was 11 and 12, some of them had hilarious notes in the margins of the liner notes. It was a great conversation starter, and a great way to say goodbye to each individual person who came by without awkwardness. This organization had made such a significant impact on my life that it was completely worth it.
So, this long story is essentially to tell you, if this is a creative organization, consider letting something that's a major part of you go to them, if you think it would be valuable to them. I'm not clear on the nature of the creative organization, but perhaps something that's precious to you that you don't actually need anymore. Old painting materials? An old typewriter? An old camera? Neither you nor they will ever forget it!
posted by pazazygeek at 7:04 AM on April 16, 2010
Personally, I would forget the gifts and throw a going away party. Can you host a BBQ or something at your place?
posted by crazycanuck at 8:17 AM on April 16, 2010
posted by crazycanuck at 8:17 AM on April 16, 2010
Whatever presents or tchotkes or party ideas you come up with, a simple, hand-written thank-you note, expressing something individual that each person has done for you, would demonstrate a ton of care & thoughtfulness.
It doesn't have to be paragraphs. Just a sentence or phrase to demonstrate that "This isn't a form letter: it's from my heart to you."
That gesture alone might be enough - your call.
posted by IAmBroom at 11:48 PM on April 16, 2010
It doesn't have to be paragraphs. Just a sentence or phrase to demonstrate that "This isn't a form letter: it's from my heart to you."
That gesture alone might be enough - your call.
posted by IAmBroom at 11:48 PM on April 16, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by MexicanYenta at 6:47 AM on April 16, 2010 [1 favorite]