I very much enjoyed this, thank you Rebecca. Although I am not mostly neuro-typical, I have many quirks that mean I rarely process things like the majority. Sometimes it's good, mostly it slows me down. I still can't tell right from left without having to do a convoluted exercise in my head, going through my mother tongue first, then English, knowing that my default position is almost always getting left and right the other way round. The writing hand method doesn't help anymore, I type-badly, but still-with both hands, thinking I'm going to trick myself by quickly going against my instinct, well, even that doesn't work flawlessly...But I used to work with youngsters with many varied neuro-diverse needs, and it allowed me to appreciate how very badly equipped we are as a society, to support them (also how fantastic their creative skills could be.) I particularly love that you are doing your bit 💚
Also, I thought I was quite organised in one thing, and only that one, but seeing your fridge list, I clearly have so much to learn!!
I really enjoyed this re-read Rebecca. It reminded me of my granddad - he was born left handed but was forced to write with the right hand . I’m so grateful we live in a world where we don’t have to physically stifle our differences like that anymore !
In snowboarding, people who mount the board with their right foot forward, left foot back, are called “goofy-footed”--also not a compliment. I’ll look forward to another column in which you spin tales of your sinister foot, and all that society does to thwart you that way. OTOH, it’s good to be in the aristocracy of handed/footed-ness, as you and Barack well understand!
Another lovely read. My sister was initially left-handed until repeated use of a ruler by a nun convinced her to write with her right hand. Her preference is still to do everything else left-handed but writing remains the role of the right hand.
Hoping that things settle down a little this week. Sending heaps of hugs and best wishes. 🤗🤗😘😘
Enjoyed reading this, Rebecca. I am a lefty, but was coerced to change when young., I still do many things with my left hand better than with my right. Like eating. I write sloppily with both hands. My left hand is better at things requiring finesse whereas my right is better for strength. Adapting was always awkward but I also think it must good be for the brain. That being said, I remember the effort it took to adapt. Thanks for writing!
I remember reading this the first time, and it is still full of impact. Like, I suspect, many right-handers, I had never appreciated how difficult life can be for left-handed people. And I think it's terrible the way some children were forced to use their right hand, as some of the comments here illustrate, and which I knew from my reading.
The comic 2000AD has a character called Sinister Dexter, and the meaning (Right Left) had never occurred to me until now!
May I also say, Rebecca, that in the year I've come to know you since reading this post, which may in fact have been the first one of yours I ever read, and having read many more of your articles, your comments and of course your letters to me, I've really come to appreciate why people in the middle ages might have thought left-handed people were witches. 😍
I'm so thankful for this re-post as it predates my recent subscription! So many lefties I know are artist/creative types, and I wonder if there is a correlation.
I enjoyed reading this again Rebecca! Left-handers definitely have a disadvantage. As far as the percentages of people who are left-handed, I never really thought about it.
I know how you feel about unforeseen circumstances. It seems like I have that every week. 🤣
I Love the post! I have, over the years in solidarity with my lefty fam and friends, tried to do things with my non-dominant hand, to the point I have become ambidextrous at certain things. I can write backward perfectly with my left hand while my other hand is writing toward the right. Try holding a crayon between your big toe and your second toe in both feet and on a large sheet of paper write your name. Your non-dominant hand and foot will automatically mirror.
I have a cousin who is a fraternal twin and he is a lefty to his sister’s being a righty. My boyfriend from a hundred years ago is also a lefty. I like it when we sit side by each at a restaurant--me on the right and he on my left--our elbows don’t get in each other’s way. When we used to dance, we’d take turns leading.
When I did house painting, I could paint equally well up high on a ladder with both hands, switching off seamlessly. It saved me having to get down to move the ladder constant. When I drive my car, I am much more comfortable steering on long straight roadways with my left hand. Using my right just feels awkward. I also learned that when we go down a street or out an unfamiliar door, we want to turn toward our dominant side. I have gotten lost so many times turning right when I should have gone left, not to mention the many closets and boiler rooms I have ended up in coming out of an unfamiliar bathroom.
OH, and since I broke my right femur resulting in an accidental hip replacement, I now lead with my left foot.
But some days I just can’t make up my mind--So I guess there is a little bit of gauche in those of us who were born under the sign of Libra. Yes, it’s a thing.
I'm glad you reposted this Rebecca as I wasn't around to read it the first time! I loved it. My dad and brother are left handed and I used to wonder as a kid why I wasn't and try to write with my left hand but to no avail 😂
And also, I can't wait to read the story of your race next week 💜
Thanks so much for bringing this back, Rebecca. As a left-hander myself, I feel your pain. This was beautifully detailed - both tragic and hilarious. I cracked up at this: "It’s for that reason that I’ll never forget the first time my friends and I discovered that gesture for ‘LOSER’. Yup, that one." and the absolutely adorable photo of a quintessential left-handed loser. I loved this piece.
One more thought, Rebecca. I carryout "small" motor skills like writing, eating, sewing, brushing my teeth, with my left hand. Trying to do them with my right is laughable. However, I naturally carry out most larger movements with my right hand- throwing a baseball, bowling, sweeping, stirring a pot, scrubbing a car. Is this true for you as well? I wonder if others experience the same...
✋Lefty here! So wonderful you shared this piece again, Rebecca. I remember struggling with spiral bound notebooks, ink mess on the side of my palm and the way my arm felt tired after an exam because there were no lefty chairs. I taught myself to write with my right hand during my senior year in high school and throughout college. So I guess I’m ambidextrous. But, I still do things with left like eating with chopsticks, playing with a tennis racket, eating with one utensil. Will always be a lefty at heart ❤️
I very much enjoyed this, thank you Rebecca. Although I am not mostly neuro-typical, I have many quirks that mean I rarely process things like the majority. Sometimes it's good, mostly it slows me down. I still can't tell right from left without having to do a convoluted exercise in my head, going through my mother tongue first, then English, knowing that my default position is almost always getting left and right the other way round. The writing hand method doesn't help anymore, I type-badly, but still-with both hands, thinking I'm going to trick myself by quickly going against my instinct, well, even that doesn't work flawlessly...But I used to work with youngsters with many varied neuro-diverse needs, and it allowed me to appreciate how very badly equipped we are as a society, to support them (also how fantastic their creative skills could be.) I particularly love that you are doing your bit 💚
Also, I thought I was quite organised in one thing, and only that one, but seeing your fridge list, I clearly have so much to learn!!
I really enjoyed this re-read Rebecca. It reminded me of my granddad - he was born left handed but was forced to write with the right hand . I’m so grateful we live in a world where we don’t have to physically stifle our differences like that anymore !
In snowboarding, people who mount the board with their right foot forward, left foot back, are called “goofy-footed”--also not a compliment. I’ll look forward to another column in which you spin tales of your sinister foot, and all that society does to thwart you that way. OTOH, it’s good to be in the aristocracy of handed/footed-ness, as you and Barack well understand!
Another lovely read. My sister was initially left-handed until repeated use of a ruler by a nun convinced her to write with her right hand. Her preference is still to do everything else left-handed but writing remains the role of the right hand.
Hoping that things settle down a little this week. Sending heaps of hugs and best wishes. 🤗🤗😘😘
Maybe you can ponder on this little situation: My starting foot when walking is left.
How do we 'left starting foot' deal with the world? *BG*
Enjoyed reading this, Rebecca. I am a lefty, but was coerced to change when young., I still do many things with my left hand better than with my right. Like eating. I write sloppily with both hands. My left hand is better at things requiring finesse whereas my right is better for strength. Adapting was always awkward but I also think it must good be for the brain. That being said, I remember the effort it took to adapt. Thanks for writing!
I remember reading this the first time, and it is still full of impact. Like, I suspect, many right-handers, I had never appreciated how difficult life can be for left-handed people. And I think it's terrible the way some children were forced to use their right hand, as some of the comments here illustrate, and which I knew from my reading.
The comic 2000AD has a character called Sinister Dexter, and the meaning (Right Left) had never occurred to me until now!
May I also say, Rebecca, that in the year I've come to know you since reading this post, which may in fact have been the first one of yours I ever read, and having read many more of your articles, your comments and of course your letters to me, I've really come to appreciate why people in the middle ages might have thought left-handed people were witches. 😍
I'm so thankful for this re-post as it predates my recent subscription! So many lefties I know are artist/creative types, and I wonder if there is a correlation.
I enjoyed reading this again Rebecca! Left-handers definitely have a disadvantage. As far as the percentages of people who are left-handed, I never really thought about it.
I know how you feel about unforeseen circumstances. It seems like I have that every week. 🤣
Hi Rebecca,
I Love the post! I have, over the years in solidarity with my lefty fam and friends, tried to do things with my non-dominant hand, to the point I have become ambidextrous at certain things. I can write backward perfectly with my left hand while my other hand is writing toward the right. Try holding a crayon between your big toe and your second toe in both feet and on a large sheet of paper write your name. Your non-dominant hand and foot will automatically mirror.
I have a cousin who is a fraternal twin and he is a lefty to his sister’s being a righty. My boyfriend from a hundred years ago is also a lefty. I like it when we sit side by each at a restaurant--me on the right and he on my left--our elbows don’t get in each other’s way. When we used to dance, we’d take turns leading.
When I did house painting, I could paint equally well up high on a ladder with both hands, switching off seamlessly. It saved me having to get down to move the ladder constant. When I drive my car, I am much more comfortable steering on long straight roadways with my left hand. Using my right just feels awkward. I also learned that when we go down a street or out an unfamiliar door, we want to turn toward our dominant side. I have gotten lost so many times turning right when I should have gone left, not to mention the many closets and boiler rooms I have ended up in coming out of an unfamiliar bathroom.
OH, and since I broke my right femur resulting in an accidental hip replacement, I now lead with my left foot.
But some days I just can’t make up my mind--So I guess there is a little bit of gauche in those of us who were born under the sign of Libra. Yes, it’s a thing.
I'm glad you reposted this Rebecca as I wasn't around to read it the first time! I loved it. My dad and brother are left handed and I used to wonder as a kid why I wasn't and try to write with my left hand but to no avail 😂
And also, I can't wait to read the story of your race next week 💜
Thanks so much for bringing this back, Rebecca. As a left-hander myself, I feel your pain. This was beautifully detailed - both tragic and hilarious. I cracked up at this: "It’s for that reason that I’ll never forget the first time my friends and I discovered that gesture for ‘LOSER’. Yup, that one." and the absolutely adorable photo of a quintessential left-handed loser. I loved this piece.
Rebecca, you'll be encouraged to learn the military has taken your side. I fondly remember my boot camp days,
'Your mama was home when you left,
left,
left, right left.'
Such a fun post!
One more thought, Rebecca. I carryout "small" motor skills like writing, eating, sewing, brushing my teeth, with my left hand. Trying to do them with my right is laughable. However, I naturally carry out most larger movements with my right hand- throwing a baseball, bowling, sweeping, stirring a pot, scrubbing a car. Is this true for you as well? I wonder if others experience the same...
✋Lefty here! So wonderful you shared this piece again, Rebecca. I remember struggling with spiral bound notebooks, ink mess on the side of my palm and the way my arm felt tired after an exam because there were no lefty chairs. I taught myself to write with my right hand during my senior year in high school and throughout college. So I guess I’m ambidextrous. But, I still do things with left like eating with chopsticks, playing with a tennis racket, eating with one utensil. Will always be a lefty at heart ❤️