I read somewhere that today is National Handwriting Day. I’m unsure if this is more of an American day, as on further investigation I found that the reason it’s celebrated on the 23rd January is because it’s the birthday of John Hancock who was the first to sign the declaration of independence. Either way, it inspired me to write a blog about handwriting.
Since being a child I’ve loved writing. We didn’t have a computer until I was a teenager and even then I’ve always much preferred paper and a pen! (In fact, I have a bit of an addiction to buying stationary… Pads and pens all over the place!) I have apps on my phone which profess to make my life easier with ways of making lists, and with certain clients and in situations where I need to access something in multiple locations, on multiple devices, I definitely see the benefit.
At the same time, I also can’t give up paper lists! I love making lists. I always have. My husband thinks it’s quite hilarious. The writer within me, likes to see things written in my own hand, and it helps me get things straight in my head. Not just the list in front of me, but the process of writing it. I find writing a way to be creative, plus it’s personal and it’s therapeutic.
As my kids have started school, I have loved helping them learn to read and write. Watching their handwriting develop. Our eldest has been at school a few years, and her target at the moment is to do joined up writing, and work on her letter heights. She is adamant that she can’t do it, but I think the issue is she writes so well, and so fast already, she feels she is going backwards if she changes. Our youngest, on the other hand, is very different. She has only just started and is only beginning to write, but already I can see she is very particular, and will not rush it, so her writing at times is very neat considering how new to it she is.
Times are very different, even from when I was young, and in the digital age, more and more people are typing. Obviously in my line of work, I see the importance of being able to type, as it’s my main method of communication. This said, it makes me sad to think that maybe one day, handwriting will be secondary to typing and paper and pens may be left on the shelf.
To me there is nothing more satisfying than making a list, writing someone a personal card or letter, or just writing down how I am feeling.
Today, as we think about handwriting, think of a way you can
keep writing alive, and share in the comments below if you’d like.