Source: http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Ned_Flanders
“I see you’re a lefty!” is the usual comment I get when I start to write something. It’s also the usual comment lefties give to each other as if to say, Hey! I’m part of that special club too. Growing up, when my dad was teaching me how to write, I would always switch over to my left hand. When I was teaching my younger sister how to write, I would put the pencil in her left hand and she would switch over to her right. I am the only left-handed one in my immediate family. My bf and close friends are all righties. When I try to write with my right hand, I hold the pen in a weird way and my writing looks like a child’s first attempt to write. With some other tasks though, I can do with both hands: brushing my teeth, putting on makeup, using a knife.
For centuries, left-handers have been feared, blacklisted and the subject of curiosity. Back in the day, in school, children were physically punished for using their left hand and were forced to use their right hand. There is the common perception that we lefties are smarter than our right-handed counterparts. According to an article in Scientific American, with regards to intelligence in IQ tests, the answer is negative. With respect to being talented in certain areas, left-handers may have the upper hand. Chris McManus, professor of psychology and medical education at University College London writes: “Left-handers’ brains are structured differently from right-handers’ in ways that can allow them to process language, spatial relations and emotions in more diverse and potentially creative ways. Also, a slightly larger number of left-handers than right-handers are especially gifted in music and math.”
While that is all fine and dandy, and really boosts a lefty’s ego, there is also a downside: There is a larger number of accidents with left-handers. This is mainly due to a world designed for the convenience of right-handers, with many tools not made for left-handed use. I could definitely use that as an excuse to explain my clumsiness from time to time. It can be awkward using right-handed tools, but being so smart that we are, we learn to adjust and eventually become ambidextrous. 🙂
Another couple of awkward things lefties have to deal with: those stupid tiny desks in the big university lecture halls. I hated when someone who’s not left- handed used them. It’s so awkward using the right-handed one because I’m slightly turned, facing the person next to me. Don’t even get me started at dinner parties. Again, I prefer to sit near the end of the table. Although I can use the utensils with both hands, I still prefer to use my left hand and now I am stuck having to worry about if I will accidentally elbow the person as they are cutting their steak.
I know the fact that I’m a lefty, already puts me in the weird category, but something even weirder: My right hand is stronger for throwing AND catching a ball. So that’s why I never ended up in the major leagues….
Are you a lefty? Can you relate?
Finally, for your amusement, some famous lefties:
1. Ned Flanders (Remember that Simpsons episode when he opened the Leftorium? I totally would have shopped at that store!)
2. Bart Simpson
3. Barack Obama
4. Ronald Reagan
5. Leonardo Da Vinci
6. Jim Carrey
7. Brad Pitt
8. David Bowie
9. Celine Dion
10. Albert Einstein
11. Neil Armstrong
12. Sir Paul McCartney
13. Babe Ruth
I’ve been told Ronald Reagan was ambidextrous, so I’m not 100% sure he counts as a lefty. That said, 3 of the 4 most recent US presidents were all official lefties (W being the exception), so I think you’re definitely in some elite company.
My best friend was born a lefty and her parents & teachers “trained” her to use her right hand as a kid. To this day she does most things better with her left hand, uses a mouse with her left hand, but her handwriting looks like a kid’s handwriting no matter which hand she uses. She blames it on the fact that whenever she had a crayon in her left hand they would take it out and put it in her right hand. =)
I forgot to add the using a mouse one. There was one mouse designated for left-handed use in one of the school’s libraries. I would get annoyed when a right-hander would use and then I would have to switch it over. lol
All the coolest people I know are lefties. (I’m not one, sadly. Nor is the boy, though he eats left-handed – puts his knife in his left hand, which I swear I DID NOT realise until a few months ago. We’ve been together seven years this month.)
I guess you don’t realise just how much the world is designed for the majority until you find yourself on the other side. (We don’t have those weird side desks here in NZ – I’ve always thought it must feel quite claustrophobic sitting inside.)
It is a pain in the a$$ trying to write an exam with those desks. There is barely any room.
I am a lefty. I don’t think it’s as big a deal as it used to be.
My Mom was born a lefty and my Gran made her use her right hand for everything. Very strange to think that not that long ago it was such a horrible deal to be left handed.
I feel it’s the same with a lot of things. If it’s not common, sometimes people at first tend to fear it/judge it. And sometimes, it can take awhile for people to accept it.
Now we why you’re so smart. To me, if you’re talented then you’re smart. I don’t care what scientific american says, intelligence can be measured by more than just IQ :0) Just from my circle of friends I can say that leftys are generally more clever, better at their jobs, and generally more creative. Since I’m not left handed, I can’t pretend to relate to everything in your post. But I see how life can be tough sometimes because most inventions are built for right handed people.
I have my moments. LOL.
I always thought it was odd and a little rude when I’d see people sitting in the left handed desks when in college. I am sure it’s maddening when you see that happen. My brother is a lefty himself and it’s just another part of what makes him unique to the rest of us.
Most people don’t really give it much thought as to where they sit. I guess I would too if I was right-handed. You’re just trying to find somewhere to sit in class. That’s awesome your bro is a lefty!
I’m a leftie! But like you, I learned to do many things with my right hand because it was easier. In University, they actually have left handed desks at the ends of the rows in the newer buildings, so nice for us lefties! Lefties aren’t so weird in my family because 50% of us are.
That’s quite interesting how half the people in your family are lefties!
I’m not a lefty, but I find it fascinating that your right hand is stronger for throwing and catching. Hmmm, there must be some strange stuff going on in the brain for that to happen. Very peculiar!
I know. I’ve tried throwing with my left hand a few times and the ball doesn’t seem to go as far. I am a weird one. 😛
I can totally relate as I am a lefty. As is my mother. I’ve learned to use “regular” scissors and I also throw with my right hand.
My brother is a lefty. He made twice as much money as I did, retired earlier than I did…….. maybe there IS some benefit to this is lefthanded stuff.
I’m also a lefty so I know what you mean. It’s not a big deal to me now but when I was in school and had those big ring binders to write in, it was terrible. Plus I’d smudge pen everywhere.
We’re both right-handed but I can sympathize – it was always super awkward for me when I had to use a left handed desk during university classes!
Another leftie over here! I’m like you, I’m the only left-handed person in my immediate family (and one of two in my extended family – I have a left-handed cousin, but we’re the only ones!) and the only southpaw out of my husband and friends, too. I think the thing I struggle with the most is SCISSORS! I absolutely cannot make right-handed scissors work for me, even when I try to cut with my right hand. I can do most everything else with my right hand, though. I prefer my left, but I’d say I’m pretty close to ambidextrous.
I must admit, I’ve never used left handed scissors before. I would probably actually be awkward using them, since I’m so used to the right handed ones.