Wow. That was a revelation. I remember what I write by hand, but not what I type, so handwritten notes in class helped, but typing into a laptop didn't. I love my grandma's handwriting, her Eastern European roots are evident in her letters and numbers and she was my number one safe place. My father's handwriting was that of a psychopath. Seriously. I can't imagine writing my work out by hand at this point, but I understand that it changes the creative process, slowing things down, allowing for more thought, but lady, my hand cramps after a few sentences these days. My fingers have lost their memory.
I do get it. Every so often while journaling, I have to shake my hand out and give it a little break. And after not hand writing for so long, I had to sort of get back in the groove of how I write. My handwriting didn’t quite seem like my own at first. I definitely learn best by long handing things out too. In school, I always felt like my note taking was kinda my super power. It was how I studied for tests and memorized things.
My grandmother wrote 2 or 3 letters to me every week, so I felt the same as you when I got them in the mail. In fact, I had saved every letter I'd ever received from my college years on....lots of shoe boxes crammed full. Sadly, when I was evicted from my home of 35 years I wasn't able to keep them. It was traumatic, to say the least. I was able to save my journals....
BTW: I saw a study about nuns on PBS years ago. Those who wrote fared better in later years than those who didn't. I also briefly helped a man afflicted. Whenever I was with him, I played his music for him which perked him out of his fugue. A few times he actually sang along to the old tunes....magical moments for us both.
What a loss to leave those letters behind. I wish I had saved more of mine along the way. Sometimes I’m too much of a purger! Thanks as always for reading and responding.
I do enjoy a hand written note/letters, it feels so much more personal. One of the reasons I love journalling. Wow interesting results by Dr Hiroshi Tanaka, this is fascinating. Thank you for sharing, every day is a school day!
Of course we overlap again!! I’m sure I probably read yours when it came out, but I just read it again. Trust me—it’s eloquent! My best friend’s daughters have been going through her things since she died and gave me a stack of handwritten cards from me that she had saved. Absolute gold. Of course I’ve saved many from her as well. On a different note, know what’s kind of weird/surprising? Using a photo of my actual handwriting with my article felt kind of vulnerable, like I was exposing myself even more. Didn’t expect that feeling!
Wow. That was a revelation. I remember what I write by hand, but not what I type, so handwritten notes in class helped, but typing into a laptop didn't. I love my grandma's handwriting, her Eastern European roots are evident in her letters and numbers and she was my number one safe place. My father's handwriting was that of a psychopath. Seriously. I can't imagine writing my work out by hand at this point, but I understand that it changes the creative process, slowing things down, allowing for more thought, but lady, my hand cramps after a few sentences these days. My fingers have lost their memory.
I do get it. Every so often while journaling, I have to shake my hand out and give it a little break. And after not hand writing for so long, I had to sort of get back in the groove of how I write. My handwriting didn’t quite seem like my own at first. I definitely learn best by long handing things out too. In school, I always felt like my note taking was kinda my super power. It was how I studied for tests and memorized things.
Great essay as always.
My grandmother wrote 2 or 3 letters to me every week, so I felt the same as you when I got them in the mail. In fact, I had saved every letter I'd ever received from my college years on....lots of shoe boxes crammed full. Sadly, when I was evicted from my home of 35 years I wasn't able to keep them. It was traumatic, to say the least. I was able to save my journals....
BTW: I saw a study about nuns on PBS years ago. Those who wrote fared better in later years than those who didn't. I also briefly helped a man afflicted. Whenever I was with him, I played his music for him which perked him out of his fugue. A few times he actually sang along to the old tunes....magical moments for us both.
What a loss to leave those letters behind. I wish I had saved more of mine along the way. Sometimes I’m too much of a purger! Thanks as always for reading and responding.
Your essays are like a breath of fresh air....so interesting and well written.
Well this is just about the best compliment I could hope to hear. Thank you so much, Dianne.
So happy you got the magazine column....
I do enjoy a hand written note/letters, it feels so much more personal. One of the reasons I love journalling. Wow interesting results by Dr Hiroshi Tanaka, this is fascinating. Thank you for sharing, every day is a school day!
Right! I’m often reminded how much I love learning. Makes me miss being in school—almost.
Not sure I miss school! but do absolutely love learning :)
As usual, we’re twins.
I also wrote about handwriting and what it means to me. (Though, you did so more eloquently!)
My best friend and I pen letters to keep in shoeboxes lest we all shortcircuit with an EMP and our history gets lost forever.
https://open.substack.com/pub/whatarethechances/p/handwritten-is-hardwired?r=4fras3&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay
Of course we overlap again!! I’m sure I probably read yours when it came out, but I just read it again. Trust me—it’s eloquent! My best friend’s daughters have been going through her things since she died and gave me a stack of handwritten cards from me that she had saved. Absolute gold. Of course I’ve saved many from her as well. On a different note, know what’s kind of weird/surprising? Using a photo of my actual handwriting with my article felt kind of vulnerable, like I was exposing myself even more. Didn’t expect that feeling!