When I was a child we were taught "handwriting" in school. It was intended to teach us not only cursive lettering but also fine motor control. The skill was drilled into my brain with endless repetition. I thought I'd never forget it. I was wrong.
Recently I've started using fountain pens which is a delight. Fountain pens work best when ink flows continuously, such as when you write in cursive instead of print. With cursive, letters are connected and you don't lift your pen off the paper; with print, you do frequently separate pen from paper.
My effort to revive cursive hit a snag: I forgot how to make some letters. Like capital F and capital Q. I searched for and found posters made for schoolchildren showing correct shapes of capital and small-case cursive letters. Eventually the alphabet's letters came back to me. I'm now practicing them like an 8-year old.
I've noted before that resurrecting activities we pursued in childhood can be very pleasing. Our brains return to early learning, sometimes with hitches but they do get there. Feelings triggered by stimulating those old memories are deeply soothing.
Do you remember all the cursive letters? Give it a shot.
I do remember them! I think they have quit teaching cursive to younger kids now. I will say my handwriting itself is more a mix of print and cursive now. Ever since breaking my arm as a teen, I've found it increasingly difficult to handwrite over the years. I have been enjoying the fountain pen you gifted me. I use it for my daily lists (grocery, to-do, reminders, appointments) and while I can't claim my handwriting has improved, the sensation is definitely more enjoyable than a standard ballpoint.
ReplyDeleteMostly I get teased at home because my more flowing writing is often, uh, creative to say the least.
I'm so happy you're enjoying the pen! And be creative. That's a good thing. Yes, schools have mostly stopped teaching penmanship and replaced it with "digital literacy."
DeleteI started using a fountain pen again last year, after getting out of the habit when I quite "office" work about twenty years ago. I still use a paper diary, and make notes for myself, but other than addressing envelopes find I write very little these days.
ReplyDeleteI do remember my cursive! I like playing with different fonts (using them in my clothing art).
ReplyDeleteGood for you!
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