Did you know that about 10% of the world’s population is left-handed? That means that one in every ten people you meet prefers to use their left hand for writing, eating, and other tasks. Being left-handed can have some advantages, such as being more creative, having better spatial skills, and being able to use both sides of the brain more efficiently. But it can also have some challenges, especially in a world that is designed for right-handed people.

Left-handed people often face difficulties in everyday situations, such as using scissors, can openers, keyboards, and musical instruments that are made for right-handed people. They may also struggle with school desks, spiral notebooks, and pens that smudge their writing. Left-handed guitarists and violinists must re-string their instruments, while left-handed saxophonists do not exist. Gum wrappers are right-handed (really!), as are apple corers, Polaroid cameras, scissors, can openers, wristwatches, and the typical power saw and rifle. Even merry-go-rounds and the average classroom desk favor the right-handed.

The kitchen can be very treacherous; as a result of mishaps and accidents from using right-handed equipment, guests, family, and a lot of lefties themselves simply conclude it’s due to clumsiness. And that’s not always so. 
Right-handed tools cause one to use the wrong leverage and pressure. Counterclockwise equipment would enable lefties to achieve the proper equilibrium needed.

Fortunately, there are some businesses that cater to the needs and preferences of left-handed people. For example, there are online (and physical) stores that sell products such as left-handed scissors, knives, watches, guitars, and mugs, like thelefthandedstore.com, leftyslefthanded.com, and anything lefthanded.co.uk. These businesses not only provide useful and comfortable products for left-handed people but also create a sense of community and pride among them.

Gadgets aren’t the only block.

Some left-handed people even experience discrimination or stigma from others who think that being left-handed is abnormal or unlucky.

Throughout history, being left-handed was viewed as negative. Even today, sometimes I will STILL get unsolicited comments: “Hey, you got your watch on the wrong hand“, “Why are you writing that way? Here, let me position that for you“, or “You’re not cutting that right. You’re WHAT?! Oh, then you weren’t taught any better.” (I kid you not!)

Teachers, especially in Catholic schools, traditionally always tried to make a leftie go against nature and attempt to write right-handed (Ronald Reagan was a born lefty who was switched to the right), which can cause stuttering or other problems.

Left-handed students are often among the best AND the worst in their class. It’s a paradox, for there are many lefties in gifted and advanced classes; 20% of Mensa members consist of left-handers. Yet there are also a high number of lefties with learning disabilities and in remedial classes, and their dropout rate’s higher.

Children were often punished for using their left hand, for it was widely believed that being a lefty was a sign of Satan!

In many cultures, the left hand (and even the left side of the body) was considered bad. The Eskimos believed that every lefty was a sorcerer. In Japan, a man could divorce his wife for being left-handed. And until very recently in Taiwan, lefties were strongly encouraged to switch to the right hand.

Many languages, including English, use the same word for “right” and its meaning is “correct, proper.” In those same languages, the word “left” has many negative meanings; “clumsy, awkward, insincere, unlucky, malicious,” etc. (Ouch!) The Italian word for left is sinistra, from which the word “sinister” is derived. In French, it’s gauche, which also means “clumsy or awkward.” 
Even sunbathers traditionally associated their left side with evil, since people facing north would see the sun set, or disappear, on their left.

Which writing hand a person uses is NOT an absolute indicator of favored hand, because there are many who may write with their left, but use their right hand for everything else, or vice versa. 
Facts: 
– One person in ten is left-handed. 
– If both parents are lefty, 50% of the kids will be. 
– If both are right-handed, only 2% will be lefty. 
– There are more lefty boys than girls. No one knows why. 
– Older women will produce more lefties than younger ones. 
– 4 of the 5 original MacIntosh computer designers were left-handed. 

There are studies that imply that lefties don’t live as long as right-handed people. It’s because (so they say) lefties have a weaker immune system, and are more accident-prone. (OKAY; probably brought on using a very right-handed product!)

There’s even a theory that being left-handed is due to brain damage during birth, and that difficult or stressful births happen more frequently among left-handed babies.

In spite of the inconveniences lefties have dealing in a mostly right-handed world, there are a few things that lefties do BETTER than righties. And they are:

1. BOWL-The spin that makes the ball curve into the strike pocket is counterclockwise and uncomfortable to a righty. But to a lefty, it’s clockwise and familiar. Lefties have been conditioned to it from turning doorknobs, screws, etc.

2. PLAY PIANO-When learning piano, you’re taught the treble staff (right-hand keys) first, then the bass (left-hand keys) in relation to it. A lefty plays the base more strongly and easily, making for a more balanced performance.

3. TYPE-Most of the major keys are on the left side of the computer keyboard (or typewriter for “old school” style).

4. PLAY BASEBALL-Lefties excel at this. The batter’s nearer first base, the first baseman covers the field better, and the pitcher keeps an eye on the first batter.

5. PLAY PING-PONG-A right-handed opponent of a lefty is faced with an unfamiliar spin and hop on the ball. Also, a ball that’s met by a righty’s weak backhand becomes a strong lefty forehand. Look out! 

Swimming also favors the lefty. Neurologists have shown they adjust more easily to underwater vision. Remember Mark Spitz? 

Southpaws make fantastic tennis players; it’s been estimated that at any given time, about 40% of the top pros are lefties.

One out of every four Apollo astronauts were left-handed. And there’s a high number of engineers and drafters, for lefties have tremendous math ability. 

Here’s a partial list of some famous lefties:

Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn (also the mother of Kate Hudson), Sarah Jessica Parker, Jason Bateman, Jim Carrey, Phil Collins (of one of the best rock groups ever, Genesis, successful solo artist, and the father of Lily Collins), Natalie Cole, Ted Koppel, Peter Fonda, Bruce Willis, Matthew Broderick (married to Sarah Jessica), Pat Robertson, Tommy Hilfiger, Steve McQueen, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, the late Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles, Queen Victoria, Prince William (many members of the British royal family were and are lefties), Carol Burnett, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Harry Truman, Drew Carey, Morgan Freeman, Prince, Tim Allen, Mary-Kate Olsen, Paul McCartney (plays left-handed guitar), Nicole Kidman, Dan Aykroyd, Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, Ringo Starr, Robert DeNiro, Bill Clinton, Angelina Jolie, Keanu Reeves, Ben Stiller, Kermit the Frog (his creator, Jim Henson, was a leftie), Winona Ryder, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Rock Hudson, Richard Pryor, Bob Dylan, and Jimi Hendrix.

On the infamous side, there’s Jack the Ripper, The Boston Strangler, John Dillinger, and Tiny Tim (Well, we can’t all be perfect).

There’s a special day for left-handers on August 13th called Left-handers International Day (It was first celebrated on Friday the 13th, 1976, by the LI organization to address all the myths and “theories” about lefties).

One final thing: If you are right-handed, DO NOT sit next to a leftie if you’re both eating or writing. Elbows will collide!

One final thing: If you are right-handed, DO NOT sit next to a leftie if you’re both eating or writing. Elbows will collide!

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