Being human (01) - Rediscovering Handwriting
Recently, while rummaging through boxes under our house, I stumbled upon a folder of old documents. To my surprise, I found several boxes filled with black Moleskine notebooks of various sizes. These notebooks, spanning from 1997 to 2015, were like a handwritten snapshot of my past.
Back in the day, I’d spend hours in cafes, people-watching and jotting down anything that caught my fancy. I’d dig deep into my soul, trying to understand my desires, my lacks, and my aspirations – probably overthinking it most of the time. These notebooks were filled with meeting notes, endless lists of tasks, and financial musings.
I spent a good while under the house, flipping through these pages. It struck me how much my handwriting had evolved over the years. You could tell when I was stressed or distracted, and when I’d really put effort into my writing. Typically, the first pages of each notebook were neater than the last. There was a phase when I wrote with a thin pencil, making my writing so scribbly that even I struggle to read it now. If I could, I’d tell my 25-year-old self, “Write neatly, mate!” But there was a reason for that messy writing – it wasn’t about preserving thoughts, but simply getting them out. And that, at least, worked.
Greetings from the past
This trip down memory lane has inspired a series I want to start on my digital note blog, celebrating the essence of “being human”. And handwriting is a big part of that. About a year ago, I decided to improve my handwriting. No particular reason, just felt like it. I even relearned the cursive writing taught in schools. Just like my kids, I practiced each letter of the alphabet, transitioning from my messy handwriting to an even messier cursive.
My goal? To achieve a flow, writing each word without lifting my pen. It’s tricky with letters like capital T or B, but I aim to write almost every word in one stroke. I want to take my time with it.
Your handwriting speaks volumes
My handwriting is uniquely mine, a testament to my humanity. Sure, a machine could do it faster and neater, but it just prints. It might even mimic my personal style, but that’s not the point. I want to take my time, develop my slow, deliberate handwriting.
Nowadays, I write by hand more often, and it feels great. The slow movement of my hand slows down my racing thoughts. Once a week, I switch off all digital devices, read physical books, and jot down notes on paper. It’s refreshing.
Deliberately slow and neat
It might go against the grain of productivity, but I don’t want to be faster. I want to be intentionally slower. Celebrate being human, even if it means making mistakes in my writing. Sometimes I’m too hasty, turning an N into an M, or missing out a word. It’s a reminder to slow down even more.
I’m not where I want to be yet. My handwriting is less scribbly than a year ago, but I’ll keep practicing daily. Sometimes I copy poems from classic authors or come up with my own texts. My ultimate goal? To write in cursive on an unlined paper with my eyes closed, producing legible text that doesn’t sprawl all over. It might take years, but I’m in no rush.
I reckon with enough practice I might get faster, but I don’t really want to. I relish the slow process, perfecting each curve and hook of a letter without it looking childish. It brings me joy and contentment. To me, it’s a sign of being human. Machines can do other things better.