I no longer trust beautiful handwriting simply because of its beauty. Like disciples of graphology, I once thought of it as one indication of a person’s personality, a beautiful soul spilling out in ink or graphite. But I’ve since met several cruel women with remarkable penmanship—graceful, flowing, elegant, and fancy — perfect for a 19th century manuscript, a wedding invitation, a special occasion font — and I know now that it is no indication whatsoever.
In a way I’m relieved to have my childish beliefs contradicted. Although I can rule out my former yardstick as a potential judge of character, it means I’m no longer out of the running as a good person. I only hope others realize it, because if monkeys were given pens and taught the alphabet, their results would probably resemble my sprawling, jumbled, inconsistent half-script. Last week, when my boss decoded a note I had left for another employee, she explained my messiness to her in a conspiratorial whisper: “She’s a writer”. I’d love to agree with her assessment, but I know it’s not the case. I’ve simply never been the kind to flounce, even in ink.
On occasion, I try to remake my handwriting, as if it will turn me into someone as elegant or as neat as the lines on the page, but if penmanship doesn’t reveal if a person is good or bad, it still must reveal some inherent details, because my writing style is as stubbornly connected to me as my freckles and weird little toes. Someday I may even find that obstinate constancy comforting.
Ya know, I have terrible hand writing as well, and I think I’m a pretty darn good person. Actually, I know I am (compared to other people I know anyway!). My second child (a boy) had beautiful handwriting and he can draw really well, too. I don’t know why some people write well and other’s don’t. But I RARELY write (with pen or pencil) because it makes my carpel tunnel hurt!
I have pretty good handwriting, but I always used to hear that truly creative people have messy penmanship! I used to messify my scrawls on purpose so I could be considered artistic. I know, I’m silly.
When I was in school I used to play with my handwriting all the time – I’d write for awhile all slanted to the left, or all to the right, or letters really skinny and smushed together. What does that say about me? Probably that I used to always want to be someone else.
Robina, I love your attitude! I wish I had had that confidence when I was a child and despairing of ever writing neatly. I’m sorry about your carpel tunnel, though. That sounds awful!
Melissa, your comment made me laugh. I always want to be what I am not: neat, outgoing, creative, etc. And the funny thing is, I saw handwriting as an artistic expression, and therefore creative people had neat–or at least beautiful–handwriting!
Liz, I did that, too! In fact, I still do it from time to time, but it never sticks. I also used to play around with various spellings of my name. One of them stuck, which is why I am no longer Karen, but instead Caryn. Why couldn’t my handwriting have stuck, I ask you!
In the blogs I’ve read it seems BookLady there’s a recurring theme foryou in being creative. I feel like people are always trying to label people by their traits or attirbutes. But its not like a word that may have one set definition at times. Characteristics -physical or otherwise are just visible markers often clumped into a category in order to find a bigger thread.
I tell you if our handwriting was the determining factor indicating creativity alot of us would be misdiagnosed althought my handwriting is classic chicken scratch. However, I think a lotof writers don’t have time to write pretty especially when their brain is going many miles per hour and our poor hands are just trying to keep up with its imagaination.
I bet your boss wished her writing was just as scribbly as yours.
Hi, Caryn.
I like to think my penmanship would rate under that special category for special, fancy penmanship, and I would also like to think that I don’t rate in your book under the ‘cruel women’ category. 😀 One can always hope… I DO like my penmanship, though.
77Free, I hadn’t thought about that, but now that you mention it, I think you may be right. More than that, though, it is coming to terms with who I am, who I would like to be, and who those around me are.
Katie, that is very true. And I’m endlessly jealous. I wish I had good handwriting. I’ve really tried. And, no, you aren’t cruel. Except when you want to be!
Heh. Well, I’m left-handed. And I hook. So, well, you can guess what my handwriting looks like. And since I basically gave up writing much of anything by hand beyond quick notes and cards, it’s gotten oh so much worse.
My cps tell me my handwriting is nice and neat, but I can only hand write for a few lines now days before I feel like my fingers are going to drop off. Unlike when I was at school when I could go on for reams (and reams…!) but then again there were no computers back then. Eek! (and I hope I’m not a cruel person. Well, I’m working on it anyway… heehehehe)
I have the handwriting of a serial killer. But I am such a nice person. Actually that is a lie. I am a liar. No I’m not, I’m a nice person. Stop lying! You are the world’s biggest bitch! oh that’s right! I forgot. But at least I’m not a serial killer… yet.