When I was still in college, signing documents, aside from the ones I get during enrollment, felt like being an empowered kid signing a blank check. I wrote, received or signed “documents” before–for or from my college organizations and “mock consultancy firms” we formed during group presentations. I get my Fine Tech, pretend it’s a fountain pen, and start wiggling the tip to form powerful strokes. Bam, I just signed it, it becomes the law, citizens of the world! Not until I get a job that I realized how serious signing a document is. Not that I discount the importance of signing something before, but signing something now, in the professional setting that is, takes a lot (or more) of privilege and responsibility, knowledge and practicality, and authority and honesty. Lives are at stake, almost literally, when you do or don’t sign something.
But let me go to the lighter side of signatures. When I was eating at our college’s cafeteria during my junior year at the university, someone approached me and volunteered to “analyze” my handwriting and signature. He told me that I’m secretive and I have a strong sex drive, among other things. I won’t deny or confirm if these are true about me but I tell you, those two attributes make a sexy concoction. Haha. Anyway, I really don’t believe that those strokes speak for my personality but the unscientific analysis seems interesting. Two years later, one of my colleagues saw my signature and told me something:
I had a Chinese manager before and he advised me to have a signature that has an upward stroke at the end. This is like a good luck charm for your career.
That was interesting. So, from this:
Original
My friend suggested to change it to this:
Suggestion
But because I’m competitive, I want an explicit upward stroke in the form of an upward pointing arrow:
My Version
Actually, this isn’t really my signature but mine has that similar upward pointing arrow. Fancy or not, I’m having fun signing any document that I have to sign. Moreover, that arrow reminds me of the signature’s power and the responsibility it entails–whatever I do, whatever I sign, it should mean a stand or a change for the better. Treat it like sex, have fun doing it but you have to ensure your and your partner’s safety and be responsible for whatever effects it may bring to both (to the three?) of you. Furthermore, apart from making it safe, you have to make it satisfying as well. And, yes, the RH Bill is already a law, after it was, well, signed.
