I think we can all agree that a handwritten note beats an e-mail by far… really far, right?
My love of handwriting goes as back as when I first learned to write. I was always aware of my parents beautiful handwriting or how my grandmother's became shakier and shakier as she aged, but beautiful nonetheless. Mine on the other hand became "me" and quite pretty as many remarked.
But then I became a teenager and a teacher told me how he was able to determine everyone's personality by how they wrote.
Graphology of course is an art in itself, but not to take things further, I didn't like this one bit. I didn't like the fact that he was going to be able to see through me because of how I wrote.
I really don't know what I was thinking back then or what I needed to hide from him, but I changed my writing every time I handed a paper to him. I made a conscious effort to write in an "ugly" way, and became very interested in cursive (so I could make it even uglier). I guess it was a phase I had to go through, but today while I was doing an alphabet exercise I realized that I still haven't gotten over it... yet.
I became extremely conscious of how a simple thing could be dissected into so many other things. This was of course, many moons ago, but it did change the way I write. I now write according to my mood and I'm no longer interested in pretty writing, just writing that is more "me" whatever that means each day.
I'm still amazed about how quirky, clean or illegible some writings can be. I like that sometimes you can even catch a small glimpse of the writer's personality. I'm still obsessed with handwriting. I love the handwritings of my pen pals, and I miss (terribly) seeing an envelope addressed to me with the distinguishable writing of my grandmother (she was an avid letter writer).
I'm wondering if writing ever became an issue with you? Do you ever question why you write the way you do?
Lately I'm quite surrounded by it (hence this post). I have burrowed
this wonderful book from my sister, and the paper love
course I'm taking has made me think about many things in a good but soul searching way. Funny how that happens!
Photos above:
1. A handwritten note at this
shop. 2.
Matisse's handwriting, I love how he simply drew a line over his mistake. 3. A letter from Mary Webb to the prime minister reprinted in
this book. 4. Writing on a wall at
Villa Augustus. 5. My alphabet practice and the map fold I learned from the
e-course.
Wishing you a wonderful friday and weekend! See you back here on monday, if you want of course!
Giova
