# How handwriting can save your life | JD Slajchert | TEDxUnity Park

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tA1AEovyPE
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/-tA1AEovyPE
Generated: 2026-02-09T16:38:38.343+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The main lesson JD Slajchert shares is that handwriting goals, rather than typing them, significantly increases the likelihood of achieving them, citing a German study showing a 42% higher success rate for those who handwrote their goals, which he applied to his own life following the death of his younger brother, Luke, who suffered from Sickle Cell Disease.

**Key Points:**
- Handwriting goals leads to a 42% higher likelihood of achievement compared to typing them, based on a 2015 German study involving preschool students.
- The speaker, JD Slajchert, began writing his goals after the death of his younger brother, Luke, who suffered from Sickle Cell Disease.
- Luke's father told the speaker the only thing wrong with his speech at Luke's funeral was that he should smile more, highlighting the importance of perspective even in grief.
- The speaker credits his friendship with Luke for teaching him about unity and inspiring him to write his first book, "Moonflower," which was published two years after Luke's passing in 2016.
- The speaker was invited to speak at the LeBron James Family Foundation to share his story and promote the Luke Strong Foundation, which supports children diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease.
- The speaker emphasizes that the tangible act of writing creates a meditative and cathartic experience that typing cannot replicate, fostering accountability.

![Screenshot at 00:25: JD Slajchert stands on the stage, holding a small notebook, preparing to discuss his personal story about having a writing teacher named Meshi Bernstein in college who instilled the habit of writing everything down, which later informed his book writing.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-tA1AEovyPE/00-00-25.jpg)

**Context:** JD Slajchert delivers a TEDx talk titled "Momentum," centering his narrative on the profound, life-altering impact of his friendship with his younger brother, Luke, who battled Sickle Cell Disease. The talk transitions from personal grief and self-perception to a powerful, actionable lesson about goal setting, using his own journey of writing a book after Luke's death as evidence for the effectiveness of handwriting goals over typing them.

## Detailed Analysis

JD Slajchert recounts his early life where he never wrote anything of his own in college, managing only to write papers that satisfied his teacher, Meshi Bernstein. After Luke, his younger brother who had Sickle Cell Disease, passed away from a stroke in 2016 at age 10, the speaker felt devastated and unworthy of the praise he received. He vividly recalls visiting Luke in the hospital and seeing all of Luke's young friends isolated, realizing that Luke represented unity more than anyone he had ever met. This experience motivated him to write his first book, "Moonflower," in the year following Luke's death. He shares a key lesson from a 2015 German study showing that students who handwrote their goals achieved them 42% more often than those who typed them; the tangible act of writing creates a meditative, cathartic experience that builds accountability. The speaker credits this practice and the people in his life who supported him, like Luke's father, for guiding him. He concludes by encouraging the audience, particularly those who write, to consider handwriting their goals because technology often serves as a distraction from the actual task.

### Early Life & Self-Perception

- Speaker never wrote his own papers in college, only what was required by teacher Meshi Bernstein
- Lived self-centeredly, focused only on his life and basketball identity.

### The Catalyst

- Speaker's younger brother, Luke, died of a stroke in 2016 at age 10 from Sickle Cell Disease
- Luke's father told the speaker that the only thing wrong with his eulogy was that he did not smile more.

### The Power of Handwriting

- Speaker wrote his first novel, "Moonflower," after Luke's death
- Cites a 2015 German study showing handwritten goals achieved 42% more often than typed goals.

### Application & Momentum

- Speaker now writes all texts, emails, and goals by hand
- This practice provides accountability and a tangible experience that technology lacks, helping him achieve his life's goal of writing.

### Current Work

- Speaker and his team are working on a documentary about Luke's story and the Luke Strong Foundation, which supports children with Sickle Cell Disease.

![Screenshot at 00:04: Opening aerial shot featuring the TEDx Unity Park branding over an urban landscape with railroad tracks.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-tA1AEovyPE/00-00-04.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:25: Speaker JD Slajchert on stage, holding notes, setting up the anecdote about his writing teacher, Meshi Bernstein.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-tA1AEovyPE/00-00-25.jpg)
![Screenshot at 01:16: Speaker gesturing while discussing the importance of writing down goals, referencing the need to move forward despite grief.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-tA1AEovyPE/00-01-16.jpg)
![Screenshot at 04:49: Speaker standing center stage, emphasizing a point to the audience, while the large TEDx letters frame the stage.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-tA1AEovyPE/00-04-49.jpg)
![Screenshot at 07:38: Close-up on the speaker as he recounts the emotional experience of speaking at Luke's funeral and crying in front of the audience.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/-tA1AEovyPE/00-07-38.jpg)