The Write Event

Some Possible Shapes of i Dots

Sweet and neat dots show a degree of calmness. It takes patience and care to do it consistently.

Slashed, dagger-like strokes meant as i dots suggest a tendency toward irritability and/or impatience.

Semi-circle i dots show a lighthearted, even a sense of humor in the personality.

Circle i dots are affectations executed by a writer who feels unique in some way but may not overtly show it. They are most often found in the writing samples of teens. However, many adults make them too. They see themselves as a little "different."

Keep checking the writings you come across. If you know the person see if any of this fits.

Omitting dots can mean an artistic choice to leave them off. That alone makes a statement. Look for artistic and consistent handwriting that is legible.Or maybe the writer thinks they are a waste of time and effort. An independent sort of person?

If missing dots are just due to carelessness, then "what you see is what you get." Beware if you are a perfectionist who likes to deal with precise people.

One Clue about Detail Orientation: Dots Over the Small Letter i

I left you with some homework in the last post: collect some examples of writing, including your own, and note where the i dots are placed. I hope you have made a collection and taken a look at your own writing. 

This single stroke is not the sole indicator of detail orientation but it offers a strong clue. It only makes sense when you think about the logic of it. As a writer moves along from left to right across each line at some point the letter i needs some extra attention because it is a two-part letter. The letter is not complete without the dot. Will he stop mid-word and put it in right then and there or will he wait until he gets to the end of the word and then go back to add each missing dot?

This discussion is about where the i dot is placed, not the shape of it. So, to sum up: consistently and precisely placed i dots in alignment with and close to the lower part of the letter show evidence of strong attention to detail. It takes not only time; it takes mental discipline to do that. 

It indicates that the writer's conscious attention is in the present moment. It is not lagging behind, which is the case when i dots are placed to the left of the lower part of the letter, (let's tag that as procrastination about tending to detail) nor is his mind racing ahead to what is coming in the future when his i dots are written to the right of the stem. Such a writer may miss paying attention to what he is doing and make mistakes or even fail to 'live' the moment because his mind is already trying to live the next. 

Very few writers are totally consistent in making each of their letters the same. You are most likely to find some variation. (Take a look at the Copybook example post where you won't find that. And to think that our teachers tried to get us to imitate that boring writing and gave us a poor grade when we couldn't do it for the life of us.)  

To a "detail-conscious person" being precise about placing i dots is as natural is breathing so there is no feeling of strain. Can a person become obsessive and compulsive about it? Yes, and there will probably be indicatiors of other traits that are close relatives of attention to detail, such as, precision, perfectionism, and concentration.

We can only hope that a writer with strong detail consistency will see it as a special gift and thus seek employment where that strength can be put to good use. Otherwise, he will feel like a fish out of water.

Does that mean all accountants show that indicator? Nope. Maybe computer programs make up for the lack if the handwriting does not show it. (Always remember an analyst considers the whole of a sample, not just a few indicators in isolation.) 

Some writers omit i dots consistently. Why? The answer can be anything from an "I don't care" attitude of carelessness to an affected "I like the way my individualistic style of artistic writing looks."  If the writing is largely legible the reader can get the intended message, with or without the dots. If it is not entirely legible then i dots help the reader sort out the meaning.

Occasionally, you may see an i dot cleverly connected to the following letter without a lift of the pen. It is common to find in certain combinations such as, in.  It can be a strong indicator of intelligence so keep an eye out for it. It is fun to find. It goes hand in hand with a fluid, fast-moving way of thinking and reasoning.

Isn't it curious how such a seemingly little thing can tell so much about a person? Well, so can the shape of the stroke that is suppose to be a dot, but may be anything but.

I will share a few of the possibilities in the next post. 

Back from Ecuador so Here is Your Homework

What a great time I had for about three weeks visiting my son who lives in Ecuador! We were able to travel and see parts of the country I had not been to before so it was good fun. Going over the Andes Mountains and swaying side to side on the hairpin turns is an unforgettable experience. Fortunately, my lunch stayed down.

I did not have opportunity to see much handwriting there and I was left with the impression that people may not write as much as I see people do in the US. Even here people may not write as much as they used to, which is observed by many when I talk to them about handwriting.)

Texting on cell phones is a different story. It seems that most people living in urban areas in that country have one and are enthralled with studying them, game playing and texting as well as talking on them.

Okay, I mentioned in the previous post that I had some homework for you readers. Here it is. I would like you to look at your own writing, writing in your possession from others, (dig out those cards and letters) writing you may watch others execute—in short, any writing you can find. Signatures count too.

Pay attention to where the i dots are placed relative to the lower part of the small letter i within words. Are they precisely over the lower part? Are they far to the left? Are they far to the right? In any of those cases, how consistent is the writer's way of placing them? Is it habitually the same or do you see variations in the same writing sample.

Perhaps start a list, naming the writer if you know the person, and then noting where the dots are and what shape they are. You may fine very neat, round ones, or small dashes, half or whole circles, etc. You may not find any at all even though they are called for in the English language as well as many other languages. Some writers omit them completely.

See if you can collect about 20 different samples and be sure to include a couple of your own.

The next post will give you some information on what i dots tell you about a writer.

After a Long Hiatus I Say "Hello" Again

Dear Readers,

I have been involved in some writing projects over the last few years but none of them involved handwriting analysis, although I have been working in the field, as before. But, I decided to leave this blog in place and I have noted that readership has remained high. That illustrates the interest people have in the topic. I hope you are one of them.

Here is what has been happening with me over the last while. I will only do this once and then I will get back to the topic of this blog, I promise.

Although I have been fortunate to have had very good health through my life, I got a surprise attack of pain in my knee one day in early 2008 when I tried to stand up coming out of bed one morning. That was 'out of the blue' so I headed for a medical consultation. It turned out that both knees were bone-on-bone so double knee replacements followed in succession. Successful results.

A year later, another surprise came at an eye exam for new contacts since I was seeing fuzzy images. The doc said, "Time to have those cataracts taken out; they are ripe. I can't sharpen your vision doing anything else." So be it, so that was next. I had the option of getting implants to give me 20/20 vision for distance but necessitating the use of reading glasses. Or, there was another possibility: having multi-focus implants put in, which, if all were to go ideally, would obviate the need for wearing glasses totally. Insurance would not cover the second choice but since I am not fond of glasses, I chose to do that.

Great success again. I couldn't be more pleased to have normal vision, both near and far, after needing corrective lenses since I was seven years old.

Not many months ago, came another surprise, which was a bit quirky. I mention it here as a public service announcement since the problem was completely foreign to me. The calcium level in my blood was quite high, as a routine test revealed. Turned out that one of my parathyroid glands had developed a benign tumor and was producing its hormone level in an out-of-control amount. The long and the short of that means that eventually calcium is leached from your bones and osteoporosis is going to be the result.

Usually, no special symptoms are evident to clue you in that you have the problem. Once diagnosed, the one-time and instant cure is to remove the gland. The four parathyroid glands are situated in the throat next to the thyroid gland. Their function has nothing to do with the thyroid gland. (I guess the person who named the tiny organs couldn't think of anything more original to call them since they live right next door.)

So, that was taken out a couple of months ago and it is amazing how much perkier I felt immediately. Odd, because before that, I really wasn't aware that I wasn't at my best. So, I mention it here as a hint that it is a good idea for anyone past middle age to ask to have the calcium blood level and the parathyroid hormone level checked out. I have an idea that a lot of people who have weakening bones or osteoporosis might have elevated reading on those two tests and not know it. A good doctor should order them.

I think the general malaise I felt affected my ambition to get back to writing here. But, with that all in the past and with renewed willingness, I am happy to return to writing here.

Enough of boring health sagas.

I hope you will visit often.

Homework awaits you. Stay tuned for the next post.

Elaine Ness

The Spirit of Intent

Have you ever been in a situation when you felt manipulated by a series of clever questions? Maybe when you were a prospective buyer. I have been there. I have also been in retail sales and never liked the kind of sales training that taught manipulative closes. Good word for it. It does feel like someone is closing in on you and I think it an uncomfortable place to be. At those times, I have often asked myself, "What's wrong with this picture? I really am interested in this product I am looking at but I am also pulling back. I feel like getting out of here."

It seems to me to come down to the question of the spirit of intent. We always have one and when it slips into being self-serving, as may be the case in a selling situation, it registers badly.

I had this happen at an upscale store not long ago. I was shopping in the cosmetics department, which is one of my favorite stops, (having spent many years in that industry, giving me some stories to share later about self-image.) It is fun to nose around and see what's new. I approached a counter and heard from behind me, "Can I help you?" (That tired question again. I didn't pick up one twit of genuine interest.) The saleswoman had a brush in her hand and was applying blusher on a woman's face. I noticed she had a notepad where she wrote what products she was using as she worked. It looked like a whopper of an order was in the making. "Do you have a question?" she persisted. (I have no idea how she would have juggled two customers at once but I think she had that in mind at that point.) I said that I was looking for a lipstick color to match something. I got the feeling that she did some quick math to compare the sales profit from each of us women and I came out the loser.

I said that I could wait for help, but by then she paid no more attention and I was left to look. Five minutes later another salesperson was then free and began to help me. In the end I found my color and then pulled out my list of 5 other items of that line that I knew I would buy. She headed for the register. There she met the first sales person whose prospect had just jumped down from her stool sporting her new look and had scurried away sans purchase. She tried to say quietly to the second salesperson, "She is my customer who was waiting for me." Not quite quiet enough. The second one would have deferred had I not said, "Please do go ahead—I appreciated your excellent help and I am really your customer."

I suppose there are times when we all have a reason to work things in our favor. But a spirit of intent that rings true makes it easier to speak honestly without a hidden agenda. Those kinds of agendas don't stay hidden for long anyway. Others read the real story and if it doesn't feel right it seeds mistrust. No one reads the truth better than kids, even when they are very young. It amazes me to see them do it. It is a good thing that we can monitor our spirit of intent and correct it as we go. It sure keeps relationships honest, starting with the one we have with ourselves.

Quotes from Some Wise People

Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.
~ Earl Nightingale

Success and failure. We think of them as opposites, but they're really not. They're companions - the hero and the sidekick.
~ Laurence Shames

With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable.
~ Thomas Foxwell Buxton

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.
~ Booker T. Washington

The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't.
~ Henry Ward Beecher

Personality Testing on the Website Listed

www.similarminds.com offers some free tests to give you some personal insight.

Handwriting Analysis Tele-classes Beginning Soon

Do you have people in your life you might like to understand better? Silly question—we all do! Trouble is we can't read minds and I am glad of that. But, having the resource of handwriting analysis gives you a way to know much more about people in a much shorter time than relying on just observation or communication through usual means. Besides, your own subjective bias can easily cloud the impression you form of someone. Here's where handwriting analysis is so helpful.

You can analyze any handwriting you have from someone without having to wait for the person to provide an official sample. Anything written—cards, memos, notes, letters, etc. works.

So how would you like to learn how to analyze handwriting by way of a human teacher who talks to you? That would be me!

Would you like to participate in a series of classes to learn the basics? The best part is that you can do it by way of the telephone from your home or office. How does it work? Simple. I mail you printed material to be used as your lesson text. Then, at the class time you and I call into a common "bridge line" which can accommodate quite a large number of people, wherever they may be. Think of it as a huge conference call. Then we will spend a happy time each week progressively learning how to analyze handwriting.

If you want more self-knowledge it will add to it.  If you are concerned about some of your relationships you will be able to get more clarity, and, for sure, if you interview and hire personnel you will get insights about positives and "red flags" beyond anything they or their resumes may tell you. (Modest people may not tell you enough; immodest people may exaggerate reality.?)

First though, I will offer a free introductory class by registration only. I will allow 40 people on the call. It is only reasonable you would want to try out my teaching style to see if it is a fit for you. I love to do these classes so I try to make them logical, informative, and fun. But, you need to judge that for yourself.

If you live in the US or Canada and you want to be on the free call please email me of your intention, first come, first served. You will find the "email me" option on the left sidebar of the blog. I will reply to you after Sept. 15th with the bridge line number and pin number you will need to get in.

The free call will be September 25th at 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time. (You must adjust your time to match mine.) The call will last one hour, for sure, which will cover the main things I want to teach you, but it could go longer if some people want to stay on for a while.

The free call only costs you the long-distance fee. If you don't have an inexpensive long distance calling plan, then shop for a reasonable calling card (from Costco, for example. Less than 3 cents per minute.)

Caution: the call must be from a land line only since cell phones do not work out well on bridge lines. They can cause interference.  Please respect this request.

As for the fee-based program: It covers 6 weeks. It will begin on Tuesday, October 16th and run for 6 consecutive weeks on Tuesdays from 5:00-6:45 PM, Pacific Daylight Time. There will be limited enrollment for the series. I will explain the details during the free call, including what the class covers.

The fee for materials and the series is $140.00 in US dollars. For anyone who already knows they want to be part of the series, (even if you cannot make the free call) please let me know by email as soon as possible after reading this. I will reply with my mailing address. For all participants: once your check clears I will send out your printed material.

I hope you will join me. You can learn a great deal very quickly if you understand the basic principles of handwriting analysis. And then you are on your way to assessing people through the code of this new "language'—and you will know why handwriting is really "brainwriting."

Elaine Ness, CGA

Madam Curie's Perspective on Strengths

"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have
perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must
believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing
must be attained."

Marie Curie

Do you agree with that? I do. But, after interviewing hundreds of people I am convinced that very few specifically know what their innate talents are.

Testing can help us determine what our gifts are.

Coming up on the next post are some resources to try out. It includes some of the best tests that are also free. Print out the results from each you choose to take and see if you agree and then also ask someone who is fair and knows you well to offer feedback.

Ecuador—a Very Different Place

I am enjoying my time here in this country. Right now I am working on this post in a small Internet cafe. Well, there is no cafe´ to enjoy so that is a misnomer. I am spoiled rotten by having a high speed connection at home as I compare it to typing on this machine that moves like molasses. but the traffic pace outside more than makes up for things in the speed department. The drivers are involved in a constant free for all with each other and the street situation is complicated by the hundreds of small motorcycles and scooters vying for space. It costs 1.00 for all rides in the tiny yellow taxis. Pedestrians able through it all and gentle horn toots keep everybody alert. Somehow it all works.

So while creature comforts have less priority here the sweetness of the friendly people wins my heart again on this, my third visit to Ecuador.

I haven´t been exposed to a lot of handwriting here so I haven´t a lot of observations to share with you. And it is not a subject I can converse in Spanish about either since I don´t know that category of vocabulary.

I am impressed with the polite greetings offered even by passersby on the street. Children are taught to do it too. It is a far cry from the U.S. custom of ignoring such nicities even by most adults. I would faint if a kid politely greeted me in public.

It is Sunday and so there are a lot of families out and about or they are sitting outside their houses and chatting. While many years ago Sunday was a big religious day the same does not appear to be true now. The church exerts far less influence than it once did, so the natives tell me.

I have one more week here so we are going exploring before I leave for home. See you back there soon.