My horrible handwriting
Why I am re-learning how to write with a pen and paper.
One of my plans for 2024 is to write more letters, send more note cards and just generally be more intentional in my communication with those around me. I have already purchased new pens, note cards, some nice writing paper and some sticky labels bearing my address in the hope that any such communication becomes a two-way street.
There is an issue, however. Having taken delivery of these fine writing implements, it has become painfully clear that my handwriting is just not up to the job. It is scratchy, inconsistent, horrible to look at and — in many cases — entirely illegible. Any penmanship I once had has dissolved, leaving in its wake handwriting that a 10-year old would be embarrassed to share.
I went to a very poor school in London. That’s not fair; the school was fine and I had lots of friends there. But the education was virtually non-existent. When my parents moved the family out of the city, I was sent to a school that quickly laid bare the shortcomings of my previous place of education. I was nine years old and my peers at my new school were writing cursive (joined-up) using fountain pens. I, on the other hand, was still writing the letter “S” back-to-front in pencil.
My parents bought me a set of handwriting books and, each evening, I would carefully…
