Can I get stupid for a moment?
I saw this press release and had an instant connection, because I’m left handed. Who would have thought that there is a Left Handed Video contest or a International LeftHanders Day?
My mom said that when she discovered I was left handed she didn’t try to beat the lefthandedness out of me like they did when she was in school. Then again, what are the chances of living in a house where all three of us are left handed...mom, dad & I. In fact, dad’s nick name is Lefty.
Us left handed folks do have issues that you right handed people have no sympathy for. When we sit next to you at the dinner table we secretly always try to be on your right side so we don’t bump elbows. In college, we always try to get to class first so we can either fight for the few left handed desks or pull a spare right handed desk over so we can write comfortably. In baseball we feel like a second class citizen because you only allow us to play 1st base, outfield or pitch. I could go on and on.
As you know, I went to see Jonathan Butler at the Dell East last week. I’ve seen him at least 5 times but this time I noticed that he plays the guitar upside down. He’s probably left handed and learned the guitar without lessons, playing it as a natural lefty would. (Check out the Southpaw Rap. He shows exactly what I’m sayin’).
The only time that I was in the company of at least 50% left handers was in engineering school. How strange is that?
Power to the Southpaws!
Click HERE to read more
Left handers rule! I don't mind you being stupid on this one because I can relate. I am a frustrated left hander. I was in the Rite Aid behind this man who had to give his birth date for a purchase. He made me smile. I told him that was my birth date too. It is a January BD. He looked at me with surprise and asked, "are you a lefty too?" I wasn't smiling anymore. I told him that the old superstitious woman who raised me forced me to use my right hand. He laughed, "beat it out of you did she?" He was funny...
ReplyDeleteSo imagine growing up a true lefty being forced to use your right hand, not good. I still have to think hard about my right from my left directions. I am inclined to be creative but this one selfish action has somewhat stifled my creativity. I use both hands.
One good thing is that I have allowed my son to follow his natural inclinations to be a lefty. It was the right thing to do.
I have a January birthday, too. And in baseball I hit right handed 'cause that's what all the other kids were doing. No one had to beat that into me.
ReplyDeleteIf you know how to use your left hand most likely you use your right hand too. Its called ambidextrous. But if you use your right hand exclusively does not mean you use your left hand.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't a literal beating. I was writing figuratively. I'm just saying that the older folks were more superstitious as far as wanting their children use their right hand. Your parents did the right thing mine did not. I hope that today's parents know better than to force a child to use their right hand when their natural inclination is to use their left hand.
ReplyDeleteI liked this story. I found it inspiring and very motivational for left handed people. After all, we have had several Presidents who were left handed including:
James A. Garfield
Herbert Hoover
Harry S. Truman
Gerald Ford
Ronald Reagan
George Bush
Bill Clinton
Barack Obama