Tracing the Lines

Musings on the power of handwriting, navigating self-doubt and learning from nature’s blueprint

Cross-dot-dot-cross.

Does it ring a bell??:)

These words might have jogged a few memories of ruled notebooks, ink stains, and the gentle scratch of pen on paper.?

Today, handwriting feels like a relic art form in our digital world. The voice-to-text apps, Grammarly, and many other tools make writing and typing less relevant.?

Calligraphy was once a coveted skill – and now more of a niche hobby for the few who indulge in its elegance.

Before the invention of the printing press, there was an era when the only way to ‘own a book’ was to meticulously copy it by hand - word by word, sentence by sentence. Can you imagine??

At the start of the academic year, we got our textbooks and notebooks. Covering our books was a small act of personalization, and was an important back-to-school activity.

Until recently, schools were also focused on developing legible and aesthetic handwriting skills, especially cursive.

Remember when we got a grade for handwriting? I recall the glow of being praised for good handwriting. ??

One’s handwriting was always seen as a reflection of one's character, discipline, and attention to detail.?

We wrote journals - these were tangible records of our thoughts and knowledge, penned by hand. And of course, the chitthis in class passed to friends for which we got reprimanded when caught, and of course the love letters!

This sensory experience is now lost in the world of tapping and swiping.

But there's science beyond nostalgia.?

Studies show that the act of writing by hand engages our brains in a way that typing usually can’t. Holding pen to paper enhances our cognitive processes, boosts memory retention, and helps us learn better.?

There’s also the curious field of graphology — it talks about handwriting analysis.?

It covers interesting aspects like the way we form our letters, the spaces between words, and even the slant of our writing. These can offer insights into our personalities. Our handwriting is nothing but a reflection of our inner selves.

But skills eventually become commodities.?

Typewriters, computers, and now smartphones, and tablets, swept in. They are all pushing handwriting further to the edges of our lives.?

From filling out forms to jotting down shopping lists, our handwriting is disappearing.?Schools are moving toward digital tools, and even kids use Grammarly in classrooms to check their spelling and grammar.?

So what will happen if we no longer engage in the physical act of writing? What will it mean for our cognitive abilities??

Will the next generation know the tactile joy of pressing pen to paper??

As we digitise our lives even further – handwriting (just like calligraphy) might just become an art form of the past.?

Obsolescence is probably inevitable, but I can’t help but feel a bit sad for the lost art of handwriting.

Leadership Code ~ Mindful Musings with Vani

Mini Masterclass on Navigating Self-doubt

Self-doubt is a silent killer.?

And who hasn't experienced it at some time or the other?

It regularly creeps into our mind saying, "Am I good enough?", "Am I ready?", "Am I worthy?”

We second-guess, we stall, and in doing so, we let self-doubt rob us of what we could be.

Paradoxically, success doesn’t curb imposter syndrome.?

Even the most successful people face self-doubt regularly. It's good to acknowledge its presence and reinforce more positive visualisation.

Here's my code:

Even if you are not 100% ready to take that leap, take it anyway. What can go wrong? Can you deal with that situation? You might just find those wings. Maybe in the unknown, we discover the magic of our full potential.?

Self-doubt should never be a full stop — it’s just a temporary pause in your story.

Pulse of Progress

Tales of Tech, Innovation and more

For 3.8 billion years, nature has perfected solutions that have stood the test of time.?

And we, humans, have instinctively turned to nature's blueprints. Our ancestors mimicked the sharp edges of thorns for hunting tools and the warmth of animal pelts for clothing.?

But today, biomimicry is driving innovation across the globe.?

Biomimicry, as the name suggests – is basically the art and science of emulating nature’s patterns and strategies to solve human problems.?

To begin with - The Wright Brothers gave wings to humanity, just like the birds.?

Another famous example is Velcro. A simple walk with a dog led to its invention.?

Swiss engineer George de Mestral took inspiration from burrs that stuck stubbornly to his dog’s fur. In this case, we can say nature didn’t just inspire – it stuck! :)

Spider silk is five times stronger than steel and yet more flexible than nylon. Engineers are now working to replicate this material for applications in construction to medicine, and a lot more...

Honeycomb structures are some of the most efficient load-bearing designs in nature. Today, they are often used in everything from architectural concepts to aerospace engineering.

I could go on and on with the examples.?

But yes, biomimicry is not confined to tangible products. Concepts like genetic algorithms and neural networks have natural elements in their names.

It goes without saying that biomimicry is also shaping modern tech fields like AI and robotics. Scientists are working on creating more efficient systems based on natural processes.?

Can Biomimicry promise a more harmonious relationship between human invention and nature and be less exploitative than the past??

Einstein said, "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

What are your thoughts on this?

#LifeLines

#Snackibles

Take a closer look at the time displayed on their devices.?

It's always 9:41! But why?

• It commemorates the exact time Steve Jobs revealed the first iPhone during his 2007 keynote.
• Apple set the time on devices to match this moment, reflecting their attention to detail.
• This has become an important aspect of their marketing strategy.

May the force be with you,

Vani

Share your thoughts and comments with me at [email protected].