Well, yes. But if I had moaned about handwriting to Miss Louise Fitzgerald, my 3rd grade teacher (and, later, first writing mentor) at Jefferson School in Maplewood, New Jersey, she would have throttled me. It was in her class that I learned longhand penmanship. Bailing from sans serif to serif for this 9-year old was a thrill. I also had great envy for the inkwell and pen that she had on her desk. (I can still remember her blue-inked signature.)
To write by hand, you have to have something to write about. Try writing a love letter in cursive. Crank up a chain letter. How about a personalized thank you note? All three are fun to receive in the mail and will certainly be more tangible in the future than your email in- and sent box. When we are long gone, who is going to tell the next generations, "Oh, look in my email box." (Reminder: Don't forget to leave your passwords in your will.)
Generating mail is also one small gesture we can all take to help save our U.S. Postal Service. (Click here to order stamps online.)
Advice for the Day: Take a seat and a sheet of paper or a notecard. Grab a pen or pencil. Ponder, and practice perfecting your penmanship.
Besides ... writing by hand is good for the soul. Of cursive, it is.