There is a nice routine that keeps the fountain pens’ ink flowing. Simply write the list of the names and inks once a week. It could be called a Mindful exercise I suppose. Routine checking each pen? It could be akin to checking your own body well being. Lying down or sitting comfortably and quietly is pretty well served with a Mindful exercise of ‘head to toe’. As a nurse there was a routine body scanning of head to toe which was an agenda that assisted me in checking poorly patients. A consultant and a nurse in post surgery theatre taught me the exercise. Alongside guided algorithms found, read and adopted in research literature. 

The Self Mindful exercise is not as deep. No where near actually. But it does enlighten current self status. There are many clues in today’s abilities to access information on the internet. Mindful body scanning helps you relax certainly. But also tells you where something doesn’t feel quite right. You can Google Mindfulness body scanning. Oh! Interestingly. If I Google search and see a bunch of advert promotions? Exit! Promotion is not advice. Good sources are the professional sites. Jon Kabat-Zinn, who runs many Mindfulness clinics is definitely a worthwhile source. If you tap below on the ‘YouTube’ red arrow and then once started, the wording bottom right it will then take you directly to the original YouTube source. More insightful and expansive than watching it here.

A pen’s simple writing status analysis can tell you something is not quite right (or write). The extent of what is wrong? Dodgy nib, leaking ink, poor filling capabilities, wrong inherent ink choices, an old internal rubber sac ink chamber, broken levers, etc. This checking to allow the pen to work proficiently determines ‘Is it for the repair or renovation process intervention?’. Or simply needs something a little different to provide better performance. Tweaked nib tines, different paper companionship to enhance synergy through outside influences, compatible ink choice, etc. A simple tweak allowing the ‘no longer tattered and tired’ and raring to go again. Fighting against the odds on a daily basis is tiresome. If something is found out from a thought out problem solving simplicity? It allows better performance. 

This simple pen writing list and checking exercise is akin to our own body. Ignoring the signs brings the possibility of a full blown alarm bell setting off and a realisation that it would have been wiser to check from time to time that your own ink flow was tip top. Or the best way it could be for your own body status after a lifetime of living and experiencing the life you have lived. 

Now to choose which pen is perfect for Christmas card and message sendings.

Please tap on individual photographs or enlarge.