lined paper
Just a random observation i’ve made;
While staring at my unruly handwriting during science today, i realized just how much i dislike lined paper. It's never seemed to serve much of a purpose for me anyhow. Ever since my pen (or pencil at first) touched paper, my letters seemed to almost purposefully evade the designated writing areas (being the lines). perhaps it is because subconsciously lines seem to pose some kind of limitation or restriction - one that does not comply with the unbridled, conglomerated confusion that is my mind.
I’ve always thought it useless to simply dislike something without at least attempting articulate reasoning behind it - or to voice a dislike without any intention of finding a solution/ alternative. Due to my dislike for lined paper, the most liable alternative initially seemed to be blank paper. This seemed to be a plausible idea, until i realized that (being me) writing on blank paper would result in a virtually indistinguishable scribbled mess which in turn would lead to frustration.
I pondered this for a moment. Logically it made no sense at all - if the reason for my dislike was the limitations set by lined paper, then surely blank paper would resolve the matter. After all, with blank paper there are no limitations. Blank paper opens up a world of freedom devoid of the blue lines that, even while writing in solitude, so mockingly imply the confinement of structured society and its ever-present expectations.
But that is exactly it - freedom. Once given the liberation i seem to strive towards, all sense of direction is lost. Unharnessed freedom poses new threats and brings limitations of its own.
It’s almost like i need the limitations of the lined paper in order for true freedom to exist. While being confined by lined paper, my handwriting tests the boundaries and with every jagged line conveys a defiance of the structure and therefore, a purpose. On the contrary, when given the complete freedom of blank paper, all sense of purpose is lost as there is nothing to defy, nothing to fight for or against. This results in the aforementioned scribbled mess which in turn affects the reading efficiency, thereby resulting in limitations due to lost information and ineffective time management (due to deciphering).
Therefore, it leads me to conclude that although i may acknowledge my dislike for lined paper i should continue to use it as medium for writing as it is exactly this dislike that seems to give to my handwriting substance, direction and ,ultimately, purpose.