Many people usually write down their memos and reports by using their computers, so handwritten notes are disappearing. As smart phones were introduced, people have been able to easily save files and videos which they want to keep in memory cards by only touching the smart phone’s screen. The age when they wrote great ideas and phrases in their diaries by using pens is disappearing.
I am also accustomed to using electronic media on smart phones. The situations when I wrote my tasks schedule in my calendar, and expressed that day’s feelings by drawing pictures faded away after I entered university. Crowded schedules on my smart phone’s electronic calendar show how much I have acclimated to digital recording. A few days ago, I found my old diaries which I wrote when I was an elementary school student. While reading those diaries, I had different feelings. Uneven handwriting reflected how I felt from each day’s events. Illustrations which I personally drew to express my feelings vividly recalled my old memories. There is something different from electronic data which is saved without emotion. Electronic data can be suddenly erased if you click on the wrong thing, but handwriting still remains until the paper rots on the bookshelves. Our memories are similar with this. Records which are written in a short time without effort linger on the edge of our brain and easily disappear. On the other hand, handwritten records are located in the long-term memories.
People prefer writing something using electronic equipment over handwriting because of the speed and accuracy. Some people would feel that it is almost an anachronism to say, “Why don’t we revive handwriting culture”, insisting the special value of handwriting in a modern society which demands speed and accuracy. However, our writing culture is rooted in handwriting not electronic writing. The Bible is an inheritance written by people’s hands before Gutenberg’s typography appeared. In addition, the True Record of the Joseon Dynasty is an inheritance recorded by historians’ hands. The reason why we put a premium on handwritten inheritances by our ancestors is that we can feel their spirit by personally seeing the records written on paper rather than an inheritance simply containing historical records. In other words, handwriting has more value than electronic writings’ effectiveness and ease.
In a modern society, pursuing effectiveness is necessary. However, if you want to leave writings which reflect your own spirit and reminisce about today’s good memories, how about writing something in your diary or notebook?