The Write Event

Yes, I Am Still Alive and I'll Be Back Very Soon

The follwing has absolutely nothing to do with handwriting or the analysis of such. I am including it as my 'tap on your shoulder' to let you know I  will be reporting back at my post here early in the new year.

Time has flown by and I have had great experiences learning more in the world of handwriting analysis so there will be a lot to share with you.

But, for now, a little story—

A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and
tapped him on the shoulder. The driver screamed, lost control of the
cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches
from a large plate glass window.

For a few moments everything was silent in the cab, and then the still
shaking driver said, 'I'm sorry, but you scared the daylights out of
me.'

The frightened passenger apologized to the driver and said he didn't
realize a mere tap on the shoulder could frighten him so much.

The driver replied, "No, no, I'm sorry, it's entirely my fault. Today
is my first day driving a cab. I've been driving a hearse for the
last 25 years."

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.

In My Absence, Here Comes Some Reading for You

Well, Folks, I am off very soon for a month in Ecuador. It will be my third time to visit there since my son has lived there for 20 years. It should be quite an adventure once again.

Fortunately, I speak some Spanish now so that will make it much more fun.

You may be sure I will be monitoring some handwriting while there since the analysis method can be applied to Spanish too. I will let you know if I notice anything worth sharing.

I have a series of posts ready to go and they will show up here at intervals for your reading pleasure.

As always, thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate the many comments I have received from faithful readers.

Elaine Ness, CGA

As the Saying Goes, "Life Happens."

Alas, my computer woes have ended. They were solved by the final diagnosis of the expert: "There is no hope to revive this machine." Well, it served me well for a number of years so I can't complain.

Now I am enjoying my new fast machine, especially the 19" monitor. It was worth the investment. The Vista changes have been easy to learn so far. It is good to have a reliable machine again because I have a list of things to discuss on the blog in future weeks.

I will start with a story that has me chuckling.

A new man moved into this apartment complex and he appears to be unattached. He is tall and nice looking. Since many single women live here (most are widows) this makes for some curiosity. While I don't know that any of them are actively looking they aren't dead yet either.

One day after the new fellow moved in he sat in the business office for quite a while speaking with the building manager. He has a booming voice and sounded quite outgoing. I was sitting within earshot in the neighboring computer room writing an email so I could hear the conversation.

After he left her I dropped into the office to say hello, which I often do. During our chat she mentioned he has "an interesting signature." So, she brought it out to show me for just a couple of minutes.

Here are the characteristics I had time to take note of:

pronounced and consistent left slant, (check the blog category that covers the meaning of slant if you want to read up on this point to understand the contrast I am pointing out.) Now this was the most surprising part. I would have expected to see the opposite, that is, a right-slant instead.

heavy depth, (strong feelings that stay with him for a long time) This wasn't a surprise. He projected a strong force of energy, both mental and physical.

strong lateral compression showing crampled writing which appears linear plus no outward extenders at the end of words, (internal emotional restraint and conservative use of resources: time and money.) He doesn't give easily, surely not spontaneously.

very tall, looped upper extenders, such as high h and l letters, (high degree of ability to understand conceptual matters; interest and/or tolerance of varied ideas ) good brainstormer

retraced strokes in the points of his m and n letters; indicators of ability to analyze (shows quickness to learn in familiar areas and ability to sift and sort it very fast)

As I handed the paper back I mentioned that "given the traits in his handwriting he isn't the extrovert that he sounded like. I have learned more than once, 'You can't judge a book by its cover.'"

She looked dubious when I said that. What I was saying did not match the personality he projected.

I explained that the surprising thing about left-slant writers is they can appear very extroverted. There is an intrinsic emotional guardedness that may not be activated unless the person feels uncomfortable. He not only shows that in the consistent backward slant but also by many other indicators showing he is quite uptight.

What I was saying sounded contradictory to her initial impression of him and of mine as well. Maybe, given his apparent outgoingness, she expected he would stop by to chat quite often.

I was thinking that day, 'Well, time will tell.'

He has been here a while now. It appears that he rarely leaves his apartment. One of his near neighbors who walks her dog hasn't laid eyes on him yet. And no, he hasn't stopped to just chat with the office lady either.

Stay tuned, perhaps time will tell more.

Some Poison in that Pen, For Sure.

Computer woes have plagued me for several weeks now. There have been revivals of the operating system and then again old Sparky has taken to intermittent long snoozes and right now that's where we are. A whiz in the field will take a look at his innards and see if there is any life in the old fellow or if the time has come to give him a "well done" and be done with it.

Some happy adventures in the handwriting world have passed by too. Some speeches to groups, several analyses and some big projects too. 

If you have been a reader of the material I have included here you well know there is a lot more to analyzing handwriting than a cursory look might suggest. There is a great deal to take in when first looking at a sample. Many times I have felt overwhelmed and said, under my breath, "I have to pull a person out of this."

At that point, I move away from my desk, take the sample to some quiet place, and spend several minutes just looking at it. I may make a few notes if any characteristics really pop out. I start writing down random impressions, which almost always are confirmed once I start measuring the sample. That has come after years of practice, much like a medical professional who can put pieces of evidence together pretty quickly. It isn't guesswork at all. But it is a puzzle, for sure. The pieces fit in time.

Some samples are so definitive the whole thing comes together very quickly.

Recently I saw a note received by a coaching client of mine (who has given me permission to relate this.) It was from a relative who lives a long way from her. She asked me to look at the handwriting. I had heard the note writer express herself in a public business forum so I knew she held very strong opinions. I was not at all surprised to see several characteristics (biting wit, a quick mind, extreme unyieldingness, and non-frank communication) that suggested it would not be easy for my client to be around her. She is an honest, gentle soul who seeks peace at any cost.

Something bothered her about the note but she couldn't put her finger on it. Of course, after I read the content I also 'read' the handwriting. The handwriting told the real story of the poison behind the pen—the kind that would kill one's spirit slowly.

The writer is ready and willing to challenge the ideas of anyone, or in the end, likely she would suggest any good idea that came to fruition had originated from her. And she is extremely skillful at turning things around to make someone else feel guilty if they don't work out.

Although she masks the tendency, she is very very sensitive to receiving personal criticism. She 'gets' others before they 'get' her. She implied something in the content that was subtlely manipulative, skillfully aimed at pushing the buttons of the receiver. The receiver missed it or didn't really want to face that this other woman wants nothing good for her. Maybe the sick stomach that demands medication each time they are together is enough to warn her that some folks are better out of your life than in it.

It is good to take inventory once in a while to see if anyone is stealing your joy.

Clues From the Realm Above

I have lived in an second floor apartment for the last 6 months. There are 50 apartments. I had taken note of the person's name who lives right above me but I had no idea which person she was. Or, I should say, who she is. She definitely is up there. I usually hear her anytime she is in the matching room where I am below her, which is unusual since the building is new and well insulated.

In the early weeks I didn't notice the activity going on above because when I was home I was moving around getting settled.

Later, I got into the habit of snuggling in my favorite living room spot to read or watch TV some evenings. I always knew when she was home. Thump, clunk, slam. It made me more curious than annoyed. It was the sound of life, which made me think she had some big project going she would eventually finish. I admire people who get things done.

Then, suddenly the noise stopped. I sort of missed it. Hmm. Had she moved?

I didn't get around to inquiring at the office if she had. Then, abruptly the ceiling came to life again and we were back in production. One Sunday evening it was pretty intense. But, it struck me funny for some reason as I imagined all sorts of things she might be doing. Hmm—building a house? practicing cheerleader routines? or??

Maybe because the TV program was boring, I grabbed my notepad and began to construct her handwriting, based on the pattern of activity I had been hearing. I wrote fast and furious and it was a fun exercise. I also wrote a description of what I expected her to look like and be like.

Here is what I came up with: an energetic woman with a dominant personality, large frame, maybe tall (? That was strictly guesswork.) Maybe a no-nonsense directness in her speech would be evident, just like her determined walk was. (I didn't need to guess on that part.)

As for the handwriting I expected to see: large writing, tangled on the page, little consideration as to the appearance or aesthetics. (A 'mover and a shaker' writing, for sure, and I wasn't hearing a graceful person.) I predicted a lack of lead-in strokes on words (she moved with purpose like a direct person with energy does) long tails on extenders in the healthy lower loops (physical movement and an idea person ? I thought it might be heavy pressure writing, based on her heavy footedness.) Erratic spacing, changeable letter size and lots of intersecting lines. (I had heard too many erratic movements back and forth for several hours at a time to suggest methodical and orderly prioritizing.)

I tucked my musings away in a file that night. She was still going at it when I went to bed, mercifully she was overhead but one room away.

Two weeks later, a postcard appeared on the community bulletin board signed by her. She had gone on a long trip across the world. (Okay, I admit I am guilty. I snitched it off the board very late one night, looked it over for an hour or so and then tacked it back up. How could I resist?)

Sometimes, I am amazed.

The postcard writing was very, very close to my anticipation of what I expected to see. It was not complicated writing to analyze. A very 'out there' person. The content made some joke about 'finding a man' on the trip.

So, that was Part One.  Then, I became very curious to see her for real. I didn't know if I ever would.

Some weeks later I was chatting several feet outside the front entrance with a woman friend who lives here. The front entrance door abruptly popped open and a sturdy woman in her 60s came striding out with her trash in hand, clearly on a mission. As she almost whizzed past us with a nod, my friend stopped her with a quick question about her trip. Then, she quickly introduced me as "the person below you on the second floor."

The woman riveted her intense gaze on me, as she looked down from several inches higher than I am, then spontaneously put out her hand and delivered a hearty shake with a smile. "I hope I don't get too loud for you." I smiled and she got why.

Although the hurried pace and heavy pressure of her steps continue, things are quieter otherwise. She is a real person to me now. I figure I could use the broom handle to gently remind her to quiet down if it gets bad again. No—just kidding. I don't think more will be necessary. You know, I am glad she shows signs of an active life. So, many people don't.

But, I might have her in for coffee and maybe she will tell me if she finished the house or made the team.

My Answer to a Letter I Received

Elaine here:

I received a letter from someone who requested help on identifying traits of those who might make good renters and potential hires.

Here was the reply I sent that was returned to me. So, Chris, if you are still with me here is what I said.

____________________________________________________

Dear Chris,

Thank you for writing. I appreciate your comments.

Well, where do I begin to answer your questions? To do what you propose really is a complicated procedure if you want to be fair to yourself and the potential hires and tenants.

I feel it takes a great deal of training to do justice to an analysis. You didn't mention that you have studied handwriting analysis  but perhaps you have. I hope so if you plan to apply knowledge to practical application of handwriting analysis.

It is so easy to generalize about people and make a stab at doping out what kind of people you are dealing with by picking out a few traits. It is far more complex than that. Honesty or dishonesty has to be determined by identifying many traits in a given sample. It cannot be stated with certainty by picking out just 1 or 2 indicators.

For example, the indicator you mentioned does not technically identify a thief. It may indicate some guilt within a person but many other traits would have to be found pinpoint evidence of "sticky fingers."

As for learning the subject: while some bad handwriting analysis books promise an easy way to do that, it is not possible. The study of the subject is involved and time-consuming and the more you learn the more you realize how much more there is to learn.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I appreciate it and your comments.

Ed Bradley Had Wise and Loving Parents

I was saddened today to learn of the death of Ed Bradley of CBS. His interviewing style on 60 Minutes was appealing, informative and very human. Over the years, I cannot recall hearing or observing any sarcastic, mean-spirited expressions coming from him on the air. Sometimes his personal attitude about a subject came through during his interviews and his questions signaled that. But, I thought he was fair.

I just read a short bio of his life, which couldn't possibly cover the depth of it, but one statement I am quoting below is one we all need to remember.

It reminded me of how much power each of us has to be a positive influence in the lives of others, especially our children.

"Bradley grew up in a tough section of Philadelphia, where he once recalled that his parents worked 20-hour days at two jobs apiece. "I was told, `You can be anything you want, kid,'" he once told an interviewer. "When you hear that often enough, you believe it."

Key word is "want," assuming you know what you really are drawn to do.  (I wonder how long it took Ed to realize his gifts.) I am just saying that he was fortunate to have open-hearted parents who instilled that kind of confidence in him.

I don't believe most people grow up hearing that kind of reassurance. Hearing "good job" isn't the same as imbuing a child with consistent unconditional feelings of being loved and valued. Misguided parents may think they will swell the heads of their children if they deliver such a positive message. Instead they shrink their hearts by instilling self-doubt.

I heard Maria Shriver say her father and her mother gave her that same kind of positive belief in herself. What a wonderful thing!

Parents with poor self esteem foster doubts of unloveableness in their children. They are so powerful. How could they do anything but that? Maybe the kids find their way to build it later because of some positive influence from someone else who believes in them.  Often not.

Many times, I have analyzed several samples written by the same writer over decades. I find that the way the person sees himself stays pretty constant despite what he achieves.

Handwriting clearly shows the level of self-esteem. It is usually the first indicator I look for as the starting point of an analysis because so many fears and defenses loom when the writer's innermost feelings are bruised.

If you want some help on dealing with such feelings check out, "How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath. (You see it listed on the side bar.) I like it.

The Connection between the Brain and Handwriting

In the last several months I have had difficulty coming back here despite my intentions to resume posting regularly. Maybe the reason was delayed grief over the death of my husband or another phase of the process. On the positive side, I am doing well now. So, more is on the way here.

Recently, I spent some time going through some of my husband's  yearly calendars. I was looking to see if I could note the progression of his disease by reviewing his handwriting. Indeed, it was very clear.

I commented on this briefly in a previous post but I have a better perspective now that I am no longer in the middle of the situation.

Although there were minor indications of memory problems many years ago, he functioned quite normally until about 2000. About that time he began to have difficulty with numbers. Things like making change confused him. And his excellent command of English began to slowly break down. He had lapses as tried to say common words. His writing broke down as well. By late 2005 he could no longer write. 

The last time he signed his name was on a new passport the summer of that year. I dreaded having to go to that office that day because I knew he was going to have trouble. I quietly told the passport office woman he would have difficulty signing. She was very kind to let him sit quietly in a separate room.  I sat a few feet away so he could try and relax. It took him 15 minutes to write his name. It looked like an inkblot test example—just a blotch of strokes. I will never forget that day because it was a turning point in recognizing how much function he had lost.

Needless to say, there is a direct connection between the brain and the ability to write. That is the reason why handwriting has been termed, "brainwriting."  So, it would be good to monitor changes in anyone's writing formations as a possible clue if you suspect mental impairment may be indicated.

What is next? More comments on loops are coming. They are a big part of understanding what handwriting reveals.

Sad news and some homework for you

My husband's long illness was cut short by his death three weeks ago. It was a sad time for us.

I apologize for my erratic pattern of posting over the last many months while I was responsible for his care. I will be back in the swing shortly and hope you will return to learn more about handwriting analysis.

Meanwhile, observe some handwritings that are accessible to you, including your own, and note the pattern of loops (or lack of) in upper and lower extenders. We are going to talk about what this means very soon.