Behind the Art and Skill of Cursive Handwriting ✍🏼

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I know that I’ve played this tune time and time again, but I am grief-stricken over the fact that due to the insane surge of modern technology, the art of handwriting and good penmanship has disappeared from schools. I am dismayed we are now living in a world where penmanship is becoming a lost world of beauty, art, and hand-written communications. The good thing is that there is a handful of schools, teachers, parents, and tutors who are implementing the technique and practice of handwriting with their students and children. I applaud that.

There is an even brighter light shown on the importance of handwriting and its connection to neuroscience pointing to the benefits of writing by hand.

One recent post on Psychology Today, for example, notes that “handwriting stimulates [the genesis of] complex brain connections essential in encoding new information and forming memories.” Studies employing high-density electroencephalogram technology point to the conclusion that note-takers, grocery-list compilers, and those who make calendar entries by hand are more likely to better retain the information. Entering information by hand also heightened the speed of recall by as much as 25% (not relying on a smartphone or personal information management” software).

The act of learning to write handsome, fluent calligraphy, and personal letters expresses creativity, individuality, personality, and communication skills in an artistic and regal way. Since cursive writing was required to be learned by second grade, my mother would always have us practice our writing, especially when she would tell us it looked like chicken-scratch. UGH! But you know what? I am so glad that she did. Perhaps that’s why I do a lot of writing, doodling, and journaling by hand every day, for the fringe, health, and lifestyle benefits.

Still, we can find balance in traditional handwriting instruction, coupled with digital literacy. It doesn’t have to be one without the other.

Image Credit: Katya Wolf

Review: Lauren Scott is Flowing Ever So Gently

Author’s Image Credit: Lauren Scott

Excitement is gently floating through the air, and author Lauren Scott is on Cloud 9!

 

Lauren’s latest book of poetry is an intimate tapestry of love, wonder, gratitude, and an impeccable scale of observation stroking the tender senses of family, the sherbet-colored skies and sounds of nature, the celebration of life and unconditional love, along with a sense of being. Lauren’s poignant reflections make us wonder about the larger picture of life, connecting to us intimately and passionately.

 

Her poem “The Old Afghan” reminded me of my mother’s impeccable talent to perfectly crochet her unimaginable creations as she tried teaching me how to tighten my stitches when I was crocheting (of course sadly, that didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped).

 

While Lauren’s poems were so personally adorned, her poem “Fulfillment” was a testament to life’s journey and resonated with me deeply.

 

Fulfillment

 

Joy could encompass

if you unfetter your goals

and dreams, functioning

 

parallel with purposes

to be recognized upon

 

the path that guides you

because they desire to shift

and slide however

their moods or penchants persuade,

longing to find fulfillment.

 

 

Be sure to check out Lauren’s website BayDreamWrites.com and connect with her on Instagram. Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Lauren’s latest release, Ever So Gently to add to your poetry collection.

Learn Something New

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Never allow your brain to go dormant and “grow” astray. -Kym Gordon Moore

I have written about this topic many times before, but I always like to revisit it. Each week, I challenge myself to learn something new that will help to strengthen my mind for continued learning and to journal those things that are new to me in the present tense. At least that is the way it is now. Well, consistent journaling of the new things I learned previously, didn’t go well each day, even though I tried. I couldn’t keep up with my designated journal to store all of these lessons. Life happens you know? Instead, I have conservatively narrowed it to writing as I go and not force-feeding myself into this stressful commitment frenzy. Doing that only makes me forget what the heck I learned in the first place! UGH! 😝

So, now, I am back at it again, but this time I am committed to journaling (with a pen and notepad mind you) at “least” one new thing a week in a separate journal from my daily diary. When I handwrite it, I am able to retain memory enhancement better by visually seeing what I physically write. Doing this helps me to challenge and keep my mind active, by using those brain cells and muscles that can lose their elasticity for memory recall. This way, I can revisit some of those memorable, educational moments without searching through tons of journals that hold more documentation than I bargained for!

So cheers to learning new and rewarding things, no matter how small or grand these lessons may be. You don’t have to wait to start with a resolution at the beginning of a new year. Make your new year happen now, by living with curiosity, adventure, and fun. Even if you learn about something that might be negative, you can learn not to follow or be that way. Turn it around into a learning and teachable moment. Never stop learning. Never allow your brain to go dormant and “grow” astray.

Who’s Holding Your Pen? ✍🏼

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While we have similarities with experiences from occurrences in our lives, no one knows better than you to tell your story. Quite often, we see ghostwriters or cowriters helping people compose their memoirs, and the voice of the person they are representing gets lost in the storytelling of the other person. You have the pen, so you write your story.

Why I Did It? Because I Felt Like It!

Image Credit: kai Stachowiak

All of us have a reason why we began our blog. Many of you have written about this subject previously. Yet, this was something I really never gave much thought to. Nervous to hit the publish button on our first post, we think about what our content means to an ever-changing world. “Do I have something worthy of reading, saying something that is of purpose, and making a difference for something positive and unifying?” To be honest, I really didn’t have a clear direction on where this blog would lead. I just started where I was because I felt like it.

I felt like the movie character Forrest Gump when he was running across the country, and reporters were asking him why he was running. Was it for the homeless, for the environment, for animals, or was it for world peace? He never stopped but responded, “I just felt like running.” Classic Forrest Gump! He amassed a great following of runners from all walks of life. He knew people were running with him, although he didn’t know why. But he thought simply, maybe it gave people a sense of hope and purpose.

My first post, “Ordinary People-Extraordinary Things,” published on January 29, 2009, was about paying homage to many unsung heroes who were doing some extraordinary things in my community. It was just a short post, but I wanted to offer a sense of hope, encouragement, inspiration, and motivation. I can’t believe that was only 14 years ago when I began my blogging journey. Not much has changed in my purpose since that time. The world has opened up a new and blessed opportunity to make a positive impact with my words.

I initially began posting some of my writings (from articles and other publications) to direct traffic back to those sites. But as I grew through those early months and years on this blogging platform, I was not short of sharing something I learned or being a catalyst of encouragement where I could be. I wanted to show the best of humanity, in conversations we may not want to talk about.

So many of us write about our passions, whether it’s cooking, traveling, crafting, education, business, poetry, short stories, health and wellness, some type of advocacy, or cultural awareness; we write, and we share. My purpose for writing continues to unfold into many nuances because my life continues to transform, little by little, each day.

When I reflect on that first short blog I published, it was about a benevolent cause and not a vanity accolade about me. I am a realist, and I know that sometimes looking through my rose-colored glasses (having a tendency to see everything in a positive light, albeit a potentially unrealistic light), I try to pay attention, see things for what they are, change what I can for the betterment of mankind, and creation, or simply to offer hope.

When you think about why you began writing, whether it’s a blog, articles, or other periodicals, what keeps you writing, and what inspires you to continue to write? How has your writing evolved since you began?

Image Credit: Suzy Hazelwood

Friday Follies: Caption This! 😜

Image Credit: Kennet Kjell Johansson Hultman

It’s the weekend baby, so let’s be a little silly shall we? 🤪 How would you caption this picture?

My reaction: “Whoa Felix, you really gotta lay off the beans man!”

The “X” Followup

Image Credit: Tolgahan Akbulut

I just wanted to do a quick follow-up to my Friday’s post “The Way You Write Your “X.”

Many people asked if there was a specific meaning to the way we wrote the letter “X” and I honestly didn’t know of any studies at that time. But, leave it to my friend Phil Perkins, with Phil Perkins Photography who found this link that I think many of you will find useful regarding the theory behind how you write your “X.” 

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/11949605/how-write-x-determines-personality-expert-claims 

Responses: 79% – #7 and 21% – #8!

Happy “X” games y’all! Thanks, Phil! 😊

The Way You Write Your “X”

Image source: pbs.twimg.com

When I saw this illustration, I thought how interesting, and decided to write an “X” and observe how I wrote it. I never thought about such a question as to how you write your X, but I’m interested in knowing how you write yours. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer, but if so, who cares? Check it out.

AI Fakery: Attacks on Authors Already?

Image Credit: Andrea De Santis

TRUST and CREDIBILITY! I knew it would be just a matter of time, but I never thought it would be this quick that AI would be weaponized, and Indie authors are now faced with new challenges and are under attack. With AI-created writing and AI user-friendly aides, scammers are easily flooding various writing venues with AI-authored fakes, such as travel, guidebooks, and independent publishing. Sadly, this is one of the things we have to be very concerned about, especially if you have indie-published work.

One recent example of this AI attack comes from author Jane Friedman, who discovered that there were several books listed on Amazon under her name that she did not write. These books turned out to be AI-generated, and someone (a “huckster, according to Friedman” ) used her name to make a quick profit.

Scammers are easily flooding various writing venues with this “Brand-Jacking” and I can see this quickly spilling over into other creative communities like the arts and music. While AI may have been created to make things a little easier for consumers, it is creating a firestorm of problems, trust, and credibility issues, that will have us questioning everything.

Additionally, indie writers have noted the influx of AI-generated nonsense on Amazon’s best-seller lists. This has caused concern about the integrity of these lists and their impact on human authors, and the revenue generated from their work. While Amazon is trying to address the issue, it will also need to tackle the influx of AI-generated reviews cluttering the site. It is clear that better safeguards must be put in place because with the influx of AI invading our daily lives, what may have started out as a good thing is making us vulnerable to God only knows what.

It’s so sad that we really have to be on guard these days in light of predators weaponizing advanced technology and be as proactive in our leisure and business dealings with security, especially online. Here is an article published in The Guardian, “Authors call for AI companies to stop using their work without consent,” (Margaret Atwood, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and 8,000 others have signed an open letter asking that permission is obtained and compensation given when a writer’s work is used by AI) that you can check out at your convenience.

How will this issue be monitored and addressed? Only time will tell. Just try to remain as vigilant as you possibly can.

Image Credit: Geralt

“It Ain’t Winning If Without You,” A Poetic Love Collection from Michelle Ayon Navajas

Image Source: Michelle Ayon Navajas

As I began reading the introduction to Michelle Ayon Navajas’ book, “It Ain’t Winning If Without You,” a couple of Carolina Wrens were sitting outside my window tweeting their mid-day songs so crisp and clear. I took that as an omen that this poetry collection, her 7th book, was going to be a good read.

I especially love the flow of her tagline reference in her intro for a popular coffee in her home country of the Philippines, “Para kanino tayo gumigising sa umaga?” (for whom do you rise every morning?). This is an excellent question that makes you reflect on your purpose for being blessed to get up every day with gratitude. Reading Michelle’s poems made me feel like I was sitting on the tropical sands near the palatial Philippine Sea, sipping on a Mai Tai, feeling a gentle breeze brush against my face, as the luscious palm trees swayed in the wind, with someone softly playing a baby grand piano in the background.

Like reading a diary of ties that bind the heart, this collection of poetry tugged at my heartstrings, softly singing melodies of the quiet innocence, heartache, love-sickness, heartbreak, and the liberation of love, through genuine and unscripted emotions. Michelle doesn’t gloss over her verses with a stereotypical, philosophical slant that turns off many readers from poetry. She gently pulls you in, through conversational simplicity, like a net capturing a butterfly.

It was such a pleasant surprise to see Michelle include some structured poems (An Etheree, Cascade Poem, Waltmarie, Sonnet Haiku, Zappai, Kimo, Naani, Haynaku, Oddquain, Waltz Wave, and a Blitz Poem) interwoven with her narrative and free-verse poems. Her dedication and the heartwarming elegies she penned to her father were emotional for me, as they awakened memories of some elegies I wrote for my late father and mother. Her poem, “My Papa,” made me bring out my box of Kleenex.

My Papa

i failed to bid you goodbye

i forgot to make you smile

on many occasions, i should

be making you happy

in between, there is

guilt

regret

remorse

and the much needed

wish for another chance

this is for you

for all my failures

for all my shortcomings

‘cos it ain’t really winning

if without you.

Another one of her poems that deeply resonated with me was “Yet I Pray,” which embodies hope despite the chaotic, incomprehensible things occurring around us and in our world. In the final section of “It Ain’t Winning If Without You,” she dedicates those pages to featuring poetry by some of her dear readers and followers.

Michelle’s latest project is the release of her new book, “LOCKER – A Collection of Poetic Flash Fiction Stories”. Be sure to follow Michelle on the following platforms: 

WordPress, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Goodreads, Amazon 

 

Kym Gordon Moore, MBA
Author, Poet, Podcaster