Happy Left-Handers' Day!

“Left-handers are wired into the artistic half of the brain, which makes them imaginative, creative, surprising, ambiguous, exasperating, stubborn, emotional, witty, obsessive, infuriating, delightful, original, but never, never, dull."
-James T. de Kay


Being left-handed has some pros and cons but overall, I've always appreciated being a south paw. It's nice to have little things about yourself that make you unique.

Some things I don't like about being left-handed:

• Smearing ink, paint, etc. when writing, drawing or using my hands
• First learning to use a computer mouse with my right hand
• Everything seems to be designed for righties (scissors for example)
• Math
• Desks in college. 99% were styled for righties
• Nuns think it's associated with the devil

A few things I like about being a lefty:

• The way my mind is wired
• Being able to jot down notes with my left hand and use the mouse with my right
• Using a turn signal is extra easy
• Being different
• When strangers point it out and say they're also lefty (instantly something in common)
• Advantages in sports (I'm ambidextrous with a lot of things)
• It's on par with my political beliefs

Now Playing: "Wagon Wheel" by Darius Rucker

Leftovers

Since I'm a lefty, I've always appreciated this little saying. It's actually true; ask a neurologist. I find the way our brains work to be fascinating. Psychology was one of the things I was most interested in studying. My friends and family tell me that I would have made an excellent therapist but I like to listen for free :)

For the most part, being a lefty is nice. It makes me feel a little bit more unique but there are definitely some drawbacks. In school, there were only so many "left-handed seats" (on the ends)... not always convenient when you're interested in getting to know the good-looking guy in the middle of the room. Maybe that's why I only met a few guys during class? Being left-handed can also get annoying when you're writing or drawing as your hand tends to glide over what you have just written/created. Not nice for wet ink or paint. It can also get a bit dangerous in a world where everything is designed for righties. Learning to use a mouse (right side) was a disaster for me. Scissors?!

Some facts about lefties:

About 10% of the general population is left-handed

Males are twice as likely to be left-handed than females

Over the course of history, many left-handed pupils were forced to learn to use their right hands

Of the most recent U.S. Presidents, an astounding 4 have been left-handed (Obama, Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Reagan)

Paul McCartney, Kurt Cobain & Jimi Hendrix all played their guitars with their left hands

Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt and Michelangelo's famous brush strokes came from their left hands

H.G. Wells, Lewis Carroll and Mark Twain each penned their works with their left hands

4 of the 5 designers of the original Macintosh computer were left-handed

Studies show that individuals with extremely high and conversely low IQs are more likely to be left-handed

Because the right side of the brain controls creativity, many left-handed individuals retreat to professions such as writing, art, music or theater

International Left Handers Day is August 13th... I'll be celebrating with the help of this. Any excuse ;)






Now Playing: "Fade Into You" by Mazzy Star