As a keynote speaker and author, I write a lot. If I’m not working on my latest manuscript, I’m blogging, tweeting, connecting on Facebook, preparing talks etc. The list is long and, needless to say, all of this work is done on a computer. The other day, I gave a talk and, afterwards, I did a book signing. For this activity, I write a brief message and sign my name. I find it interesting that, even in this time when most things are written on one form of technology or another, people still value having a handwritten signature. A signature is very individual and personal. It is used to identify us. We have it in our passports and on the back of our credit and debit cards. It is the defining example of our handwriting. On a daily basis, I still have a notepad where I jot down ideas and things I need to do. I must admit, I’m still, to a degree, a pen and paper guy. But, for many people, the thought of having to actually write anything seems a pointless activity. They would argue that there is no point when everything can be typed on to their Smartphone, iPad or other device. And I do see their point. However, handwriting appears to be a dying skill and that, I think, is a great pity. I could quote you articles and statistics about the number of schools that no longer teach cursive writing. On the other hand, I could also quote you experts who tell us that learning writing is integral to developing fine motor skills in young children and aids in their learning to read. But, I want to focus more on why I believe there is a place for us to incorporate handwriting at stages in our day-to-day life. Who doesn’t get a thrill when a birthday card, Christmas card or postcard from an exotic destination arrives in the mail. It tells us that we are being thought of in a way that goes beyond just sending a quick text, email or message on Facebook. Actor Steve Carell once said, “Sending a handwritten letter is becoming such an anomaly. It's disappearing. My mom is the only one who still writes me letters. And there's something visceral about opening a letter - I see her on the page. I see her in her handwriting.” On the wall of my office, I have a charming picture drawn by our four-year-old goddaughter, Oasis, and she has signed it with her name. Upper and lower case letters mixed, it’s a treasured reminder of her first attempts at writing. I keep thank you cards on hand and will write a brief message and send one to an event organizer, or other contact that has engaged my services. I regularly get feedback as to how much they are appreciated. This personal touch resonates and shows how much you appreciate their business. I am not proposing that we all give up our laptops and computers and start writing everything by hand. I, for one, would find this far too time consuming and inconvenient. I need to be able to send written work to multiple contacts. The convenience of cutting and pasting, taking quotes and articles and use them for reference is obvious. But, I would encourage everyone to at least make some small effort to write something by hand when looking at the ways in which we communicate. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Make it brief, make it personal and watch it make a difference. Next time you’re on vacation, why not send a postcard to a friend or loved one. You know it will make them smile.
© 2018 Martin Parnell
www.martinparnell.com
