#ULOG: How Handwriting and Calligraphy Changed My Life.

Written using Tombow Fudenoske Hard Tip Brush Pen.

Handwriting Journey

I have been really insecure of many things especially my handwriting. I have had a bad handwriting since my childhood. I always compared my notebooks to my brother’s and I always said to myself, how can I have beautiful handwriting like that of his? I tried my best to improve my handwriting but in vain, and no one really pushed me to actually do it seriously.

Then one day, when I reached high school I was stressed, especially in choosing the major I wanted to enrol into. The Special Program in Arts was introduced to our school, where we were the first batch of the program. I was torn between choosing music or creative writing as a subject. I was more inclined towards choosing creative writing so that I could improve my grammar and learn how to write with my own unique style, and I ended up choosing creative writing for the Special Program in Arts.

One day my teacher in creative writing class told me that she couldn’t understand what I was writing. I was the worst in the class: I couldn't write well, I didn't have any good ideas and a very bad handwriting too. I took it as a challenge to fix my handwriting, I asked for a scrap paper from my classmate who by chance had a really beautiful handwriting, which I could copy and learn from. Since I wanted to get better at my handwriting, I practiced writing everyday even during breaks at school. I copied words from books, wrote them on paper, and practiced while writing my write ups too.

Working hard on my handwriting changed me. It boosted my confidence in writing since I was able to see the improvement in the clarity of the words. There were times when my teacher (from highschool and even college) asked me to write short articles on the blackboard, I would be overwhelmed. It felt really good when people started to appreciate my handwriting for which I worked on for years. That inspired me to work harder and make my handwriting more beautiful, and today I can't be any happier and proud of the outcome of my due diligence and patience in achieving a pretty handwriting.

• Luckily I found some copies of my handwriting from high school. So here they are, my handwriting before I started learning.

• These ones are the ones when I was in college.

Calligraphy Journey

There are still times I deny the fact that my handwriting is getting better day by day. Sometimes I don't believe in what my classmates or friends say because I still think I can do better at my handwriting skills.

I love browsing the internet about many different things, and one fine day I came across this very striking and entrancing handwriting. It was so amazing that it begged all of my attention and I was filled with enthusiasm to really learn how to write so beautifully. After searching for some time on facebook, I came to know that a good friend of mine from hellopoetry Rose Ann was a calligraphy expert. I was filled with happiness and curiosity which compelled me to ask her many things like how I could purchase the materials and what I should do for practice so I could write beautifully too. I navigated to a site she recommended, pens-galore where I purchased sumi ink, speedball oblique holder and nikko G nib. These are an absolute must for anyone to have for someone interested in doing calligraphy. Until I discovered a bond paper with 100 gsm, I used a thick special paper to practice my calligraphy. Though it bleeds but at least I could practice my strokes on it.

• This was where I purchased my calligraphy set.

• This is a picture of the things I purchased when I was starting.

• The paper I am currently using for practice.

• I printed dotted pattern and this other pattern for my practice. ( I searched them all on google)

• This is the very first time I tried the calligraphy set I purchased.

• These are the calligraphy I did as time passed by.

• This is how I practice.

• I also tried drawing using these calligraphy set and this is how it turned out to be.

I really worked hard for things I wanted to do, and I am always curious about the things that I want to learn and I have no idea about. Whensoever I put my mind into doing something, I always try my best to achieve it, irrespective of the odds of achieving it.

If we put our minds into doing something, we can really do it, as long as we have diligence, perseverance and motivation to really make it happen.

If you want to do something, do it today. In the future you will just look back and realise that you can cross the limits and achieve something you think is really worth living for. It takes time, but its totally worth it.