Lefties do it Right

As you probably already figured out, I'm a left-handed and proud of it. In this hub I will explore the meaning of being "left-handed". I'll also try to explore the myths including the left-hand. I will not focus on the scientific aspect since the real cause of left-handedness is yet a mistery. I will, however, try to give you a perspective of how it is to see the world through a left-handed person's eyes.

This hub isn't about the boring scientific theories, this hub is about people. About feelings and experiences. I hope you enjoy this, whether you are a left-handed, a right-handed or ambidextrous.

Left-handedness, also refered to as "sinistrality", "sinistromanuality", or "mancinism", is the preference for the left-hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing.

Many football (soccer) players use their left-foot to play but that doesn't necessarily mean they are left-handed.

Also, did you know that although you write with your right-hand you might also have a "left-handed brain"? It simply means you have a very active right-side of your brain.

Scientists have been studying the brain and the body to find out what causes a child to be born left-handed. Some people believe it is genetic, some think it is developmental and some believe it might be both.

Whatever the theory, the real cause for left-handedness remains a mistery.

In what comes to the left side, the worid's history is full of superstitions.

Sometimes regarded as a good side, but mostly considered the "bad" side of the body, the left side has been discriminated against for centuries. Some superstitions seem silly now but others still prevail in modern day society, sometimes without people even realizing it. Here is a list of some superstitions associated with this side of the body.

- Evil spirits lurk over the left shoulder . Throw salt over this shoulder to ward them off.

- Joan of Arc is depicted as being left-handed. This is something that might not necessarily be true. It's possible that she was depicted as such at the time to make her appear evil.

- "Getting out of bed the wrong side." An expression referring to when you get out of bed with your left foot, meaning you'll have an unlucky day ahead.

- A ringing in your left ear means that someone is cursing you. As opposed to the positive meaning of the right ear.

- The Romans originally perceived the left side as a lucky side but later changed to the greek method.

- It is seen as a bad luck gesture to pass a drink to another person with the left-hand. Or anti-clockwise.

- The ancient Zuni tribe considered left-handedness a sign of good luck. They believed the left was the older and wiser.

- In the Catholic church the left-side is the side associated with the "Adversary" (Satan), so children in typical catholic countries used to be forced to write with the right hand. This later proved to be the cause of numerous brain problems in left-handed people.

I was a little girl of about 7 when it happened.

My father was an atheist but my mother is very religious. Soon I got used to going to church every sunday and as every christian there, I would make the sign of the cross.

I will never forget the angry face of an old woman (or to me she seemed old at the time) when she realized I was performing the sign with my left-hand. She pulled my arm very strongly ( I remember it hurted a bit actually) and started inspecting it.

When I asked her "what's wrong?" she replied "You are a very evil girl. How dare you make the sign of the cross with your left hand?"

As a child I didn't understand what she meant by that and I was incredibly scared by the look on her face. To me she was the evil one there. It was only natural and my mum never corrected me in any way regarding my left-handedness.

My mum soon arrived to take me and she said something to the woman I can't recall or didn't listen to. I must have been too scared to pay attention. Later she explained to me that most people her age still thought that we shouldn't make the sign of the cross with the left-hand because it was "the evil hand".

Even as a child all I could think of as an answer to that was "As long as I believe in God and do the sign, who cares which hand I use?".

I lost my faith (at least my connection to one particular religion) some years ago, but I will never forget that moment. What kind of person scares a child for using the left-hand?

How Christian of her...

Being a left-handed might not seem hard to anyone, but have you ever realized how much the world is made for right-handed people? Let me show you a few things that you might not have considered.

#1 - Opening a door. (Most doors have the handle on the left side, thus being prepared to be open using a movement of the right hand). Do you have any idea how many times a day I still stumble on the bottom part of doors around the house trying to open them with my left hand? It's ridiculously funny at times.

#2 - Scissors - When right handed people cut through paper, you have the blade turned to you, so you can see what you are doing, we can't. Hence the need for left-handed scissors.

#3 - Writing. Aside from a few languages, we write from the left side to the right, so as you write, you can see what you are writing, Try that with the left hand and see how many smudges of paint you get. It will at least make you laugh a bit.

#4 - School Chairs. Have you noticed how school chairs always have the place to hold the books (that little table) on the right side?

#5 - Chainsaws, knives, scalpels, violins, guitars, even golf clubs... all prepared to be used with the dominant right hand . Although it is funny how a left-handed musician is able to adapt to this, in other professions this is the cause for the high level of left-handed people involved in work related accidents.

#6 - Computer mouse. I am so glad they invented laptops.

#7 - Video cameras. Those small ones with the handle on the right side. Again!!!!!

I am not saying that the world should be prepared for us, (the majority wins no doubt) but a few things once in a while, specially for children, would make a big difference.

I would like to propose a challenge... To all you Barney Stinson Fans out there...

Do everything you usually do with your right hand using your left... for 24h and then let me know the results. I think you might have some pretty funny experiences to tell.

So.. is my challenge... ACCEPTED????

I would like to finish this hub with some random trivia

- Left-handers day is 13th August.

- Left-handed people die an average 7 years younger than right-handed people.

- Left handed people are usually more creative and connected to art (the right side of the brain is responsible for this)

- There are only between 7% and 10% of left-handed people in the world. The majority of which are men.

- Left-handed people have a faster thinking process.

- British slang for left-handed are: kefty, scrammy, and wacky. (The brits sure make up some funny words for us)

- In German, a left-handed person is called "linkisch" or "clumsy." (this applies to me, no doubt.)

The list of famous left-handed people is endless. I will be posting a link for this list and some other curiosities below.