Being misunderstood can be at the very least frustrating and, at the worst dangerous. When speaking, the listener will have the inflection of your voice, body language, and facial expressions to clarify what you mean while you talk.
The written word has no body language, facial expression, or voice inflection. Having clear and legible handwriting is essential to clarify your purpose when writing for someone else to read. Suppose a person wrote a note for themselves, never intending the message for others? For example, you are making a list of how many bottles of liquor you need to bring up to restock the bar, and you are the one filling that bar; well, as long as you can decipher your handwriting, you can write how however would like. So if you write your fours that distinctively look like nines, it will not matter unless you hand that list to someone else. It would not be enjoyable, to say the least, if a person had to bring five bottles back to the cellar because they mistook your four for a nine!
There are complaints that "They do not teach writing cursive anymore!" I am not sure that is true for every school; however, does it matter? Really what we all need to learn is how to READ cursive and, even more than that - penmanship. I do not care if someone writes in cursive or prints, as long as I can read what they have written. Many people complain that the upcoming generations "won't even be able to sign their names." Have you seen the signatures of people? Particularly doctors or lawyers? Also, how often are our signatures required, I mean TRULY required? When was the last time someone looked at the signature on your ID to compare it with the signature you just gave someone? Most likely never.
When paying with a credit card, many places do not require a signature, and even when they do, no one looks at the signature on the back of your card to compare the two. I know many people who do not even sign the back of their credit cards. If a cashier wanted to make a comparison, they would not be able. Writing checks? There isn't too much of that being done these days either. Frankly, my signature, for the most part, has become a scribbled star simply because no one bothers to look at it.
With the amount of texting and computers, the art of writing is not high on the list of needs. Though I believe good penmanship died long before computers and texting became the mainstay, I think it is an art that should be taught, learned, practiced, and perfected. There is something extraordinary when you come across someone with outstanding penmanship. Maybe our grocery lists or lists to restock the bar do not have to be perfectly legible but slowing down for a second and consider it an opportunity to practice your penmanship. Future generations will appreciate your time and effort. After all, It will be far easier for them to figure out what you were trying to convey if it is legible.
Love Lots; Smile Often
MommaHattie