There’s something to be said about the beauty of a handwritten memory. With so much technology readily available, the art of handwriting has faded in today’s instant world. Instead of writing letters and keeping journals, we tend to opt for a quick email or text and a social media update. These communication and storytelling mediums have their purpose, but memory keeping is not always one of them.
Part of Your Identity
Is there anything more personal than handwriting? We all have a unique way of writing that, in more ways than one, expresses our personality. The way we dot our i’s and cross our t’s, our spacing between letters and words, and even the pressure we apply with the pen tells us something about who we are or what we may be experiencing in that moment. There are expressions and impressions that can be read from the way we carve each word. Were we thoughtful, happy, sad, tense, or enthusiastic? Readers connect with the honesty and vulnerability of handwritten memories. As we preserve our memories in our scrapbooks, handwriting is also part of the story. Even if it feels imperfect, it is an extension of ourselves that is important to include in the stories we preserve and share with others.
Thoughtful and Intentional Journaling
Writing by hand tends to slow us down, forcing thoughtful and intentional words. Editing occurs less as we write, often making it a better reflection of our genuine self. Physically writing out a page of words takes more time and energy but it also engages our creativity. Handwritten journaling can show that we put more thought and effort into something that could easily be typed in less time, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. By writing our stories in our scrapbooks, we’re assigning greater meaning to our memories–moments that might otherwise get lost.
Keepsakes
Handwritten memories become keepsakes. Consider old letters exchanged between your grandparents and compare them to text messages we send today. Which is a keepsake truly worth saving? The same goes with writing in cards, letters, journals, and scrapbook pages. The stories and memories saved in handwriting are more likely to get passed down from generation to generation and held tightly and close by those who admire and love us. Texting, emails, and social media are all signs of the times. It could be fun to screenshot a text conversation and scrapbook it. It is part of our lives after all, but typed words don’t evoke our personality the same way that handwriting does. Including it in our scrapbooks enhances the story and the value of the keepsakes we create.
Perfectly imperfect, writing by hand is an investment we make to share a piece of ourselves in the stories we tell for others. Whether you love your handwriting or can barely stand it, we encourage you to share this piece of yourself in your memory keeping—everyone who looks through your scrapbooks will be glad you did.
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****I'd like to add that when I find my daddy's handwriting here and there, it's so special to me and brings back a FLOOD of memories...even more so now that he has passed away!****
I'm going to try and hand write more on my scrapbook pages instead of using the computer or my pretty pink typewriter!
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