Happy Calligraphy Day, everyone. Raise your hand if you handwrite very little these days.
While my calligraphy is not Meghan Markle’s, what with being left-handed and leaving a trail of ink smudge after EVERY SINGLE WORD, I thought I would give it a go and give you my personal take on Calligraphy Day.
Let’s take five this lunch break and focus on the pleasure of leaving your keyboard behind and think a little about words and their meaning.
Here are some of the words that have pleased, annoyed or just haunted me in the past weeks or so. Enjoy.
Touch
Physical or emotional, this word has a strong evocative (and that’s another word I love) power over me: no matter if it’s ‘keep in touch’ or the touch screen of your iPhone, the word touch is personal, intimate and somewhat invasive.
Attraversiamo
Meaning ‘let’s cross over’ in Italian, attraversiamo is one of the most beautiful Italian words; even Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love says so. Difficult, takes a strong combination of lips, tongue, mouth and teeth to correctly pronounce it (yes, I am saying it out loud as I write), I love it because it gives me a sense of togetherness and, especially, of facing something, a road, a challenge or just life itself, together.
Unfinished
I know it might sound a bit negative but to me, unfinished is quite a perfect word. I choose to see something unfinished as an opportunity for something better and, maybe, for a little space created for something else or someone else in the dusty corners of any unfinished business.
Painter, sculptor and genius Michelangelo never finished his David/Apollo and that left researchers and people investigating his work and life even more. The unfinished creates opportunities (another favourite word) or the dream of an opportunity.
Cwtch
There is not a more comforting word in the Welsh language or any language really. It’s warm, homey and all-around precious. It also means cuddle so yes, like Welsh people is pretty flawless.
Quill
It just means a lot to me, so much I almost tattoed it on my wrist; quickly realised that needles are not my thing. Sounds lovely, quirky and it’s about writing and how fascinating it can be.
What are your favourite words? Share them on Twitter using the hashtag #favouritewords.
Get involved with World Calligraphy Day. Join the hashtag today #WorldCalligraphyDay
*Article in partnership with Manuscript Pen.
