Last Tuesday, Pen Boutique owner Leena suggested that I write a "storytelling style" article about how fountain pens can slow life down in a positive way. At first, I was caught off guard. I usually approach my articles as a pen lover eager to dive deeper into a concrete subject and then share the information I’ve learned with my readers. As I focus in on the details, the article blossoms, inspiring me, and the words and images come together to express my fascination and enthusiasm. This topic seemed more abstract and philosophical, which intimidated me.
Then I realized: maybe Leena was trying to tell me something. She and I are very different, but we are both the kind of people who find it challenging to unwind and focus on things that genuinely help us relax. We think about fountain pens night and day, but, because we care so deeply about them and about communicating that passion to others, it can sometimes be difficult to step back and simply enjoy them.
Her suggestion came at a time when I was feeling stressed, tired, and overwhelmed, as I know many of us are these days. After my initial surprise, I texted back, "I like this topic! It’s very timely." I knew it would be a challenging one for me, but also one that would be very valuable to explore.
Focus and Calm
For the rest of the day, I thought about ways in which fountain pens can help people step out of the rush of day to day life and be more present, something that is becoming increasingly hard to do in an "always on" culture focused on productivity, achievement, convenience, efficiency, and the need to constantly be informed or entertained.
I was off to a good start, but when I sat down at my desk at home a few days later to work on the article, I realized with dismay that I couldn't think clearly. Instead of focusing on my current article, I had been emailing and texting people about my next article, making small updates to my previous article, and fixing product listings on our website that I'd noticed needed attention. At the same time, I was exchanging texts about the upcoming Pilot nib seminars I’d be teaching at the store and at the DC Pen Show, sorting out my work schedule, and planning social media content, while trying not to think about my new contact lens prescription, the ache in my shoulders, and the shrinking amount of time I had left to finish this article. I was tense, overstimulated, and my mind was spiraling.
I decided to step away from the computer and take a short break to try to quiet my thoughts. I made a cup of coffee, went out to my front porch and sat quietly in the sun, trying to take some deep breaths and relax. As I gazed out at my surroundings, I noticed delicate mushrooms like little umbrellas, with skinny ivory-colored stems and smooth taupe caps, vibrating in the trembling air. I, too, felt like I was vibrating.
Across the lawn in the distance, I watched a skink sunning herself on the slate retaining wall, then gazed up at the sky, a soft pajama-silk blue brushed with cottony clouds. Surrounding me, there was so much green, everywhere: grass, trees, bushes, flower stems and leaves, and velvety soft moss. The colors reminded me of J. Herbin Lierre Sauvage, Diamine Meadow, and Iroshizuku Chiku-rin.
I slowly uncapped my Pilot Custom 743 and wrote down a few of the details I was noticing, allowing myself to take pleasure in how unique the nib makes my handwriting look. To use my flexible FA nib, I needed to be more deliberate with my line strokes, skimming the tip lightly over the page on the upward and cross strokes, but adding intentional pressure on the downstrokes, creating beautiful variation in my line width.
As the ink dried, glistening metallic sheen emerged where the liquid had pooled more heavily at the bottom of each stroke and in spots where the nib had flexed. It was so beautiful and satisfying. Smiling slightly, I added a few lines of looping spirals, concentrating on trying to make them smooth and consistent.
I loved the feeling of my Midori MD paper's slight texture under the fine nib, and the way the little loops looked somehow happy. Why didn't I do this more often? What if, instead of continuously checking our smartphones, we reached for a favorite fountain pen and paper, savored the experience, and lingered on the small details that bring us pleasure and calm?
[Pictured: Esterbrook Estie in Honeycomb with a fude nib.]
Mindfulness
One of the things Leena had suggested I mention in the article was "mindfulness." What is mindfulness, exactly? I actually had no idea, but when I looked up the meaning, I realized I had been instinctively practicing it without knowing, especially when using fountain pens.
[Pictured: a Kaweco Perkeo, Pilot Kakuno, and Sailor 1911L, ready to help with a moment of mindfulness.]
Mindfulness means being aware of the present moment and your surrounding environment, sensations, thoughts, and feelings, and experiencing them calmly, without judgement. What's the point? Well, it physically alters your brain by reducing activity in the stress centers, and can have a profound effect on your mental, physical, and emotional health. It lowers cortisol (the "stress hormone") levels, and can help you break negative thought patterns and help keep your mind from wandering. It also helps lower blood pressure, helps keep tension headaches and migraines from happening, and improves sleep quality. And, it shows you how to respond to situations with intentionality rather than just reacting without thinking. Sounds pretty great!
Along with all those benefits, mindfulness helps you savor everyday pleasures and form deeper connections with other people by being present in the moment and paying attention.
Creative Journaling
How can fountain pens help with mindfulness? One big way to practice mindfulness is by observing your thoughts, and using your fountain pens for journaling can help with that. Interest in journaling has skyrocketed in the past several years, with younger generations using journals as a way to step away from their screens and use physical, handwritten journals as a means to slow down.
There are many different forms of journaling beyond the traditional “dear diary” style. Gratitude or “happiness” journals and lists, which encourage you to focus on what you are thankful for or what brings you joy, along with nature journaling, where you write or sketch observations from the natural world around you, are especially effective ways to slow down and become more present.
Gardening journals can also be deeply rewarding, helping you keep track of the plants in your garden, where they came from, where they were planted, notable details about them, and how they are doing over time, while connecting your fountain pen use to another grounding, restorative hobby. Dream journals are another fascinating option, encouraging you to pay closer attention to your dreams and remember them more clearly.
I have actually used fountain pens, watercolor paintbrushes, and inks to illustrate especially imaginative dreams, and I have a small notebook that I use to write lists of things I love that begin with each letter of the alphabet.
[Pictured: my Pelikan Art Collection fountain pen and Midori notebook.]
I usually try to stick to 10, but "C" got a little out of control. The second page included Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Carmen, crown-of-thorns sea stars, cycads, chipmunks, Connecticut, calm, Così fan tutte, Christmas, cashmere, crocuses, cephalopods, charisma, cheesecake, coral, cobalt blue, coelacanths, compassion, compliments, copper (color), crème fraîche, crème brûlée, cream cheese, and caviar!
Taking the time on a Sunday afternoon to sit still and think about things that I love, and then write them down with a favorite pen, is a very restful and restorative activity, and I do it when I feel like my life has been especially hectic or challenging.
Speaking of favorite foods, food or drink journals can be as simple or as detailed as you like, and can either act as a straightforward way to help you be more aware of what you are eating and drinking, or be a fun and creative way to observe and enjoy the details of special meals or beverages instead of consuming them mindlessly. Some people use fountain pens for tasting journals focused on coffee, beer, wine, whisky, mezcal, cheese, chocolate, food and drink pairings, restaurants, or home cooked meals, just to name a few ideas. By slowing down and observing what makes a tasting experience special, we make it more meaningful.
Although I've never been consistent with keeping a journal expressing my thoughts and feelings or recording what I do each day, I've actually been keeping an Amaro Tasting Journal over the past five years, and I love looking back at some of the highly creative stream-of-consciousness accounts I've written describing the appearance, aroma, and taste of the different amari I've sampled.
Because these bittersweet Italian liqueurs are each made up of a different complex combination of botanical ingredients, it's usually very hard to pinpoint exactly what you are experiencing, and I let my imagination run wild, so my journal is filled with descriptions inspired by tastes and smells lingering at the edges of my memories, inventive word combinations, strange color descriptions, and beautiful fountain pen and ink pairings, often exhibiting gorgeous sheen or an especially nuanced shading.
I took the time to look back through the journal a few weeks ago, and got caught up in recalling what favorite pens and inks I had used to write some of the older entries. Paired with the right paper, Waterman Harmonious Green sure is beautiful, even when my handwriting is messy and uneven!
Just sitting and reflecting on any experience, then writing your thoughts with a fountain pen, can be an enjoyable and calming way to slow down, think more fluidly and creatively, and observe more deeply. Plus, it's fun to use fountain pens and inks, so, instead of feeling like a task, it's like a treat or reward.
Baking or recipe journals are another twist on a food-related way to use your fountain pens to record something important to you, especially if you want to remember family favorites or pass them down to future generations. Sitting down with your mom, dad, grandparents, or siblings and writing down favorite dishes allows you to connect, reach back into memories, record, and remember. Using a fountain pen rather than typing creates a physical object infused with personality and meaning, which will not be lost over time as digital technology evolves. Think about how special it is to have recipes and letters written by hand by relatives and friends who are no longer with us.
You can also hand write memories, the stories behind treasured possessions or heirlooms, descriptions and drawings of places you have lived or visited, favorite quotes from friends and family members, or anything else that helps you hold onto and appreciate more deeply the parts of life that are meaningful to you.
[Pictured: Stories and Memories diary from Midori, and Pilot MR Retro Pop fountain pen in Purple, equipped with a calligraphy nib to add flair to your handwriting.]
I know customers who keep reading journals and listening journals, which tie fountain pen writing to other activities that help us slow down, step back from digital and productivity -focused culture, and just use our senses and imagination to enjoy a richer life. I love a wide variety of music, but one of my favorite genres is opera, and I've used my pens to make lists of my favorite operas, opera singers, and opera characters, to draw sketches of the characters as I imagine them, and to take notes on Italian words I've learned from listening over and over to my favorites from Verdi, Mozart, and Rossini. Writing the words down by hand helps me remember them better, and drawing with a fountain pen while enjoying music helps me listen more deeply because I'm not distracted.
[Pictured: Benu's Opera-inspired Euphoria fountain pen.]
I also like to draw with fountain pens while listening to sermons at church; it keeps my mind from wandering off to a phrase I want to change in my blog article, how pretty the trees out the window are, or the fascinating pattern on the dress of the woman in front of me. Instead, I'm able to use one part of my mind to listen and think about the words I'm hearing, while my hand draws a simple scene, overlapping lines, small flowers, fish, geometric designs, letters and numbers, or loops and zigzags. Many people of faith use a fountain pen and notebook to express their spirituality, record especially meaningful passages, reflect on the scriptures, or remember what to focus on in prayer.
“Inefficient” Hobbies
However you choose to use it, reaching for a fountain pen feels very different from typing or grabbing a disposable pen. It invites a more intentional experience as you feel the pen’s weight, balance, and texture in your hand, and write more deliberately, appreciating the interaction between your chosen nib, ink, paper, and even your own distinctive way of forming letters.
A recent study by Norwegian scientists has even found that the precise hand movements and sensory engagement employed when using a pen "contribute extensively to the brain's connectivity patterns that promote learning." David Oscarson mentioned this study to me during his store event at Pen Boutique last month, and I wasn't surprised to hear it. Pen Boutique owner Leena's daughter Shriya has told me many times that she moved to taking her school notes by hand because the process of hand writing the words helped her learn the information far better than typing it on her laptop.
Even if you are just using your pen to write a to-do list, it makes it feel more special and allows your brain to slow down, creating a moment of pause in a day that otherwise feels rushed. Because you are using a pen and notebook you enjoy, you turn writing from something purely functional into something you choose to spend time with. Checking off your finished tasks is more satisfying, too!
Take a look at my photo below for a moment, and imagine using this pen to help you complete day-to-day tasks.
[Pictured: our store exclusive Delta Duna, with To Do Memo Pad from Midori.]
First, you'd have the pleasure of selecting an ink to fill it. What color would you pick? If you wanted to match the pen, the possibilities would feel nearly endless. You might spend a little time admiring the swirls of resin, choosing a favorite shade within them, then selecting an ink that inspires you and makes you happy to write.
Then, you'd fill the pen from your ink bottle, using the built in piston mechanism. You could refill it as often as you liked, trying a different color each time if the mood struck. As you used the pen, you might find yourself momentarily lost in staring at flowing patterns in the resin, your eyes following a joyful pathway. Yes, all of this is less efficient than pounding away at a keyboard, but it slows life down in a way that feels less stressful, more pleasurable, and somehow more connected.
When I was working on this article, I started to think of lots of things we can choose to do that, like using a fountain pen instead of a keyboard, are less efficient, but more fulfilling. The experiences take longer than their alternatives, but feel more "real," more valuable, and richer. Naturally, I used a fountain pen to write them down.
My list includes:
- Writing by hand, forming letters, feeling the paper and nib interaction; choosing ink, paper, pen
- Going to an opera (or other performance) vs. listening to a recording
- Going to a museum vs. looking at a photo of the artwork (seeing details with your own eyes, seeing the texture and the real color)
- Playing a sport vs. playing a video game
- Watching a sport in person vs. on TV
- Cooking food yourself vs. heating up a microwave meal or getting Doordash
- Savoring a slow restaurant meal vs. fast food
- Attending an in person fountain pen meetup vs. an online discussion group
- Sewing clothes or knitting or quilting vs. buying premade
- Growing your own vegetables vs. buying them from a grocery store
- Talking face to face vs. texting
- Taking a road trip vs. flying there
- Going for a walk outside vs. driving (or walking on a treadmill)
I only thought of this list after stepping away from my computer and taking a brief break outside, which allowed me to refocus. While I was in the yard, I noticed mulberries all over the ground and decided I should pick them up. Yes, it slowed down the article a little, but in a good way. Bending down to get the berries stretched my tight legs and back, and enabled me to return to the article refreshed.
[Pictured: my Diplomat Aero and Hobonichi's "Another Night of Falling Star Sparklers" notebook.]
While I was outside, I was also inspired to take a couple more photos for the article, including one with another favorite pen, one of my Lamy AL-Stars, while thinking about the satisfaction my brother gets from splitting and stacking wood for his woodstove, something I love to help him with. That's definitely another example of something that slows down life, but in a welcome way.
Stargazing, picking fruit, gardening, film photography, brewing coffee, listening to vinyl, wearing mechanical watches, playing a board game or game of cards, reading print books and magazines, writing handwritten letters and cards, cleaning your fountain pens... all of these things ground life, slow it down, and make it feel more real.
[Pictured: my Pelikan Toledo fountain pen with Pen World and Fountain Pen Journal magazines and a scarf I knitted.]
[Pictured: my friend Harsh's Brass Kaweco Sport, Amber Pilot Custom 823, and Sailor Compass Fude De Mannen fountain pen, his favorite for drawing, along with his mini deck of cards, pocket knife, small Leuchtturm 1917 notebook, watch, camera, and other personal items.]
Yes, efficiency and convenience help make life easier. I'm not suggesting we return to the past. I certainly would never be able to write these articles without my computer and keyboard for faster writing, the ability to quickly reorder paragraphs and replace words with better ones, or a spellchecker to catch mistakes. And using fountain pens and other analog tools won’t make life magically calmer.
But analog hobbies are becoming increasingly popular as people realize the toll that screens and technology are taking on our abilities to concentrate and relax. Instead of spending time entranced by pointless short videos and soulless AI-written Facebook posts, playing hours of video games, or compulsively scrolling through social media or news feeds to consume distressing content that leaves us feeling anxious, angry, and drained, we are making an effort to step away and engage in more uplifting activities that help us find joy in the world we live in.
[Pictured: my own new Kaküno Madoromi fountain pen, letter from a loyal blog reader, loops and letters written while focusing on listening, and thoughts I wrote after a walk I took near dusk while working on this article. As the day darkened, I saw the most intriguing mauvey lavender/dusky apricot gradient in the sky.]
This was a hard article for me to write, and I felt like it took longer than it should have. But life doesn't always have to be about productivity. Although I was frustrated at times, the process of stepping back, pausing, and thinking about a subject that wasn't easy to simply describe with facts made me appreciate my fountain pens even more, and focus on the ways that they make my life better and richer.
-Laura P.
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[Pictured: Hobonichi Fireside Chat notebook.]
