A handwritten card this holiday season will leave a lasting impression
By Kyle Valentini
October 1, 2011
266
Summary: The art of handwriting is getting lost and some schools dont even teach it anymore. Writing can be beautiful and with practice even those of us with mediocre skills can improve them. Sending a handwritten card or letter this holiday season will brighten someones day and make them feel special when you take the time to write your feelings and sentiments in your own hand.
Some people have beautiful handwriting that seemingly requires very little effort. Other people struggle to make a simple grocery list legible enough to read. Handwriting has gone by the wayside with all the other forms of communication being put to greater use.
We text, we Facebook, we Twitter and once in a while well even send an email. It is becoming less and less common to write a letter in our own handwriting. Even purchased cards have a sentiment already written and all we have to do is sign our names.
For some, writing is intimidating or perhaps we are terrible spellers. The importance of handwriting and spelling has diminished with the use of computers, Smartphones and social media as our primary means of communication. There are even online services that will hand write cards for you.
Most public schools dont teach handwriting after third grade so it is obvious why many young people have little skill when it comes to writing with a pen or a pencil. Not being able to write in cursive means many kids wont be able to read it either.
Studies have shown that handwriting makes you smarter. A University of Wisconsin study showed that the sequential finger movements required to write by hand activated brain regions involved with thought, language, and short-term memory.
During the holidays most of us like to reach out to family and friends and in some cases it might be the only time of year we do so. Make it extra special this year by creating a hand written card for those on your list in your own handwriting.
If your penmanship is lousy do what we are always told to do to improve, practice. Cursive writing and even calligraphy dont have to be difficult.
In cursive writing the pen rarely leaves the paper unless a new word is being started. In calligraphy letters are formed by strokes and most letters are made up of more than one stroke requiring the pen to leave the paper often.
Once you have practiced, youll find that your penmanship improves rather quickly.
Craft stores, specialty shops and even office supply stores have a large selection of papers, envelopes and embellishments to choose from when making your own greeting cards. There are many online resources as well.
Paper can be much more than a surface to write on. Paper can be a sensory experience for both the card maker and the receiver. Varying card stocks can be smooth or be textured and come in matte or glossy finishes.
Pens in various line widths and colors are available and will make your writing more vibrant and festive than the typical ball point pen.
When making cards it is not necessarily how well done it is so much as the time and effort it took to create something to express your feelings to the receiver.
Pre-printed cards that you merely sign your name on are not generally kept for long periods of time. On the other hand, a hand-crafted, handwritten card becomes a keepsake that will be cherished for many years to come.
