It was established by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA) in 1977 to encourage people to re-discover the purity & power of Handwriting. This day was selected as a tribute to one of colonial America’s most ardent revolutionaries and greatest philanthropists, a nine-term governor of Massachusetts, president of the Continental Congress, the first signatory of the Declaration of Independence - Mr. John Hancock. His birthday falls on Jan 23.
His bold, stylish & unmistakable signature on the Declaration of Independence was an act of defiance against the rule of the then British monarch King George III.
Handwriting is one of the central pillars of education. The act of writing by hand is one of the first examples of the alignment of mind & body towards understanding and learning a subject. The formation of each alphabet to create a word which is incorporated into a sentence is the key to learning and the development of the brain. Some of the ways in which handwriting helps us are listed below:
Handwriting helps in reinforcing the concept being taught in a way that is very individualistic.
The way we write helps us to understand in a way that is more suited to our thinking.
Handwriting (as against reading & listening) is more engaging and assists in improving memory retention.
It helps to focus & concentrate on the activity at hand. Having to look at a screen & keyboard intermittently distracts the flow of ideas & thought patterns and writing becomes more mechanical than creative. Not to mention the known & unknown problems of radiation associated with digital screens or the effect of the sounds of tapping of keys on the sub conscious mind).
Handwriting helps in calming the writer which enhances creativity of the brain leading to clearer Critical thinking as well as improved problem solving skills. Handwriting helps in the development of wisdom as against the reproduction of existing knowledge.
Handwriting is more emotional and helps connect much more than typing ever could.
The art of handwriting is being lost & co-incidentally so is the ability to empathise. The means of communicating have become easier but the connections are becoming weaker. The keyboards, smartphones and apps are making it easier to write but not to think and express.
We are becoming alone in a crowd.. a bit like individual alphabets strewn across a page. Handwriting (especially cursive) helps us to connect with others and more importantly with ourselves too. There is no doubt that Handwriting & Brain development go hand in hand.
Graphology is the Science of understanding an individual's personality through their handwriting. Reading helps us to understand the written word, but Graphology enables one to read the unwritten word. A Graphologist can help to understand the person behind the writing and the motivation and sincerity behind the communication.
It is an excellent self development tool and Graphotherapy (Grapho Therapy) involves correcting the “Way We Write” to improve the “Way We Think”. We still don’t have an International or National Handwriting Analysis Day (Graphology Day) yet, but there will come a time when we develop this Science more finely yet solidly and appreciate it's importance in building a better society, nation and finally world.
More information on the courses I conduct in my Grapho Clinic is available on the website www.drjasmineshah.com & read how Graphology can be used in the fields of Education, Homeopathy, Career Counselling and Recruitment in Human Resources.
Handwriting is important...But Good Handwriting is even more important.
Stay calm & keep writing.