Summer got in the way of posting over the past few weeks, but an
interesting observation prompted my return.
And, it’s not marketing/PR related. (Well, may be just a little.)
While at the post office in Old City Philadelphia this afternoon to purchase stamps, the postal worker asked me if I had personally
hand-written the birthday card I was about to mail.
I answered in the affirmative.
She said, “ Can I ask you a personal question? Did you go to Catholic school?”
I again answered ‘yes.’
She said, “ Can I ask you a personal question? Did you go to Catholic school?”
I again answered ‘yes.’
The woman effused about my handwriting. She said her sister
and mother had attended Catholic school and she recognized the trademark
cursive. Then she said, “Shame, it’s a dying art.” We lamented about the fact that
some schools no longer teach cursive. It’s true. A friend and I recently spoke
about the fact that his son had reached high school (at a reputable Philadelphia school) without ever being taught cursive.
As our brief conversation came to a close, she
tongue-in-cheek-ingly joked about the upcoming, print-only generation not being able to
sign a check or other legal document.
With technology, these kids many not have to sign a check per se, but won’t they have to sign something? I can certainly see shorthand
going by the wayside as computers replace the way we used to do most everything. But, our signatures now?
Walt Disney had a unique style of printing. For most,
however, it’s our scripted signature that creates our personal trademark. I
mean, who would want to buy insurance from plain, old John Hancock? Not nearly as stately, unique or
convincing. Furthermore, with a "signature" like the this, the insurance company would surely have a different logo (I knew I’d tie this back to marketing one way or another.)
In any case,
graphologists (those who study handwriting) say cursive gives them a better
read on a person than printing, according to a recent article by Amanda
Armstrong for “Real Simple”.
As a matter of
fact, “Handwriting is about the brain,
not the hand. Nerve impulses travel down the arm, into the hand, directing the
fingers to maneuver the pen. When the ink hits the paper, it actually reveals
the complex inner workings inside the writer’s body mind and spirit. A deeply
trained graphologist can spot imbalances in handwriting that reveal imbalances
in the body mind and spirit,” reports DrOz.com.
The analysts on Brainwriting.com contend that a person’s
signature is the outermost symbol representing how they want to be viewed by the world.
“I use handwriting as a tool for coaching, team building,
testifying in court, hiring, entertainment (trade shows, events and parties)
and romantic compatibility,” handwriting analyst, Sylvia Friedman says.
Speaking of graphologists . . . does this transition from old school to new mean they will be out of jobs in 10+/- years? What about the books and classes dedicated to this ancient study, which some say began with Aristotle?
I’m for progress
as much as the next gal. But please folks: teach your kids cursive. It is the
one, unique component of our identities we can own as every cyber criminal tries
to steal the rest.
Thanks for
tuning in.
-Natalie
(Hold-off on analyzing me; this not my real signature :)
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