Kentucky Serendipity

National Handwriting Day 28 December 2014

23 January is National Handwriting Day, celebrated each year on John Hancock’s birthday. Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and is famous for his large, bold signature. The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA) established the commemoration in 1977 to offer “a chance for all of us to re-explore the purity and power of handwriting.” Here is an excerpt from the WIMA website:

Handwriting allows us to be artists and individuals during a time when we often use computers, faxes and e-mail to communicate. Fonts are the same no matter what computer you use or how you use it. Fonts lack a personal touch. Handwriting can add intimacy to a letter and reveal details about the writer’s personality. Throughout history, handwritten documents have sparked love affairs, started wars, established peace, freed slaves, created movements and declared independence.

So, how would celebrate this day? By writing, of course. How about a handwritten letter to a friend or family member? If a letter seems like too much, how about a postcard? (You can send a pretty picture with your personal note on the back.) Many people have illegible signatures — how about spending some time to practice your signature. Maybe you’ll even come up with a new signature style — there are some tips here. Feeling a bit more adventurous? Write a short story, or start that novel — by longhand, of course. You might find inspiration in a quote from a famous writer — many can be found here. Or start (or re-start) a journal. Journals are great for reflection as well as recording life’s events.

Some claim that handwriting is dead, and some schools no longer teach cursive. Even if handwriting is dead (and I think it won’t be for a very long time), we should still pause to appreciate the rich history of handwriting and the value of handwritten documents. People still study Latin and Sanskrit, and we should still practice our handwriting. Pick up a pen (or pencil) and put something on paper, even it’s just a shopping list for sometimes those wind up being significant.