I read in a handwriting analysis book once that people who don’t close their parentheses are the sort of people who don’t finish the things they start. (Who knew you could be analyzed and judged due to poor punctuation?
Now, I’m not saying this is true for me, but I’ve been known to leave the closing parenthesis off once or twice. (Per page.
And my husband’s been known to say, “Close your parentheses,” as he comes through the kitchen behind me pointing at all the cabinets and drawers I’ve left open.
I will also say that I just walked into the bathroom and found the toilet brush balanced on the edge of the rim while toxic poo-cleaning-chemicals ate at my bowl.
Chemicals I had sprinkled in there three hours ago.
So for fun, here’s a quick list of handwriting styles and the character traits they represent*:
Letter slant:
If your letters slant to the right it indicates you are open to the world and sociable.
A slant to the left indicates you conceal your emotions. Others may think you’re cold because they don’t see your emotions.
No slant means you’re logical and practical, you are guarded with your emotions.
Size:
Large letters are for large personalities. Celebrities, outgoing folk.
Small letters are for introspective and shy folk
Average size is, well, average. And apparently adaptable to all the big and little folk in the world.
Line of writing slant:
Slants up, you’re feeling optimistic
Slants down, you’re drooping along like Eeyore. (Or you’re just tired because your four-year-old showed up TWICE in the middle of the night bawling. For no reason at all.)
No slant, you’re fine. Unless it’s too straight, then you’re tense and over-controlled and possibly crazy.
If you want more, there’s a fun Handwriting Infographic here.
My question is, if my personality and mood affect my handwriting, does it go the other way too? Can I change my mood by changing my writing?
If I’m feeling bummed, can I grab some paper and write a note, slanting every line UP optimistically?
If I’m annoyed that it’s raining, can I act optimistic and slant “The constant stream of never-ending raindrops is musical and life-giving!!!” up my paper?
When I start, it’s bound to be sarcastic. But I say sarcasm is as good of a place to begin as any.
I’m guessing that the ‘fake it ’til you make it’ idea works here too. I’m also guessing I would feel better about the rain when I was done.
Oh dear. I just turned around and behind me there are
- two open drawers,
- one half-folded shirt
- and a box of craft supplies half put back together.
Forget the optimistic up slant. I’m going to practice closing my parenthases.
(I’ll start now.)
(Just walked to the kitchen and there are two not-quite-closed drawers there too. I’d better do this a lot…)
You have any quirks you want fixed? Maybe there’s a handwriting tick that applies. Let me know in the comments below. We’ll google it and fix ourselves together! ‘Cause I’m clearly qualified to offer handwriting analysis advice. *
*Disclaimer: I am NOT a handwriting expert. I googled it just for fun. If you’re left handed, or write with a robotic arm or something, this may not even apply to you for all I know. Take handwriting analysis claims from this post with a grain of salt the size of the Bonneville Salt Flats.
All photos courtesy of the highly-scientific RealSimple.com.
Holy cow, you’ve just described my household! I’m am a self-proclaimed ‘95%-er’…partially knit scarves, open drawers, and yes, half written books :-P. I also enjoy a four year old who comes in at 1:00 am asking to sleep on our floor :-).
My new mantra will now be “close the parenthesis” – which has a better rhythm than “seriously, finish something, will ya?”
Jennifer RT
That’s why I try to say it to. What I should really do is teach the four-year-old to say it whenever he sees something left undone. That’s a job he’d relish. And maybe I’d learn…
And will this humor be ‘in the book?’ Loved it!
You know, in my head it’s there, but does it come across on the page? Well, you can tell me when I post it. 🙂
Dear Dr. JA:
What do I do if I’m the sort of person who won’t begin anything unless I’m certain I can finish it… so rather than have a house full of half-finished tasks I have a multi-columned, multi-colored, hierarchical “To Do” list that’s several pages long?
Signed,
Kathryn Kant-Start
That made me laugh out loud!
How ’bout this? IF closing parenthesis are for finishing things, maybe opening parenthesis are for starting things. You should try starting EVERY item on your ‘to do’ list with a parenthasis. I’m sure that will work.
Or else it will make every task look like an aside, then they won’t seem important any longer and your list will disappear. Win-win.