I was born left-handed. I had no choice in the matter, it just was. As simple as that seems to most, it does qualify me as just a little bit different. Only about 10% of the world’s population uses their left hand as their dominant one. That MAKES you different than “most.” And I was keenly aware of that from a very young age.
Right from the beginning, even ordinary tasks were more difficult for me because it is such a right-handed world. Some of the simplest things could confound me. Scissors, soup ladles, notebooks and so many more items are all made to be used most effectively with the right hand. Because I just could not use these tools effectively, working with them was often a frustrating experience. It made me feel uncoordinated and awkward. And to make matters worse, people were always around to make sure that I was reminded of that! Even writing is more difficult for lefties. As a right-handed person puts pen to paper, the words appear AS you write them down. We “lefties” must use that weird bend at the elbow as we create our script. Otherwise, our hand covers the words so that we can’t actually SEE what we are writing and the words wind up all over the page!
As a young man I loved to play baseball. As my birthday is in the Spring, every year my father would take me to a sporting goods store to pick out a new glove for a gift. But when we went to the store, there were hundreds of mitts – for righties – and a few, mostly for 1st base use only, for lefties. And THAT was because lefties were limited to just pitching, playing the outfield, or 1st base. The NATURE of the game is to be played mostly by right-handed people.
When I went to college at Rutgers University, I always had to get to the larger lecture hall classes early to make sure that I could get a seat. And, it wasn’t because there weren’t enough of them. In fact, there were hundreds. The issue was that out of those hundreds, only a handful were designed to be used by left-handed people.
Even the very word, “left” has a bad, if not downright evil connotation. It even says so in scripture: Those who are good, a.k.a., the righteous, and sit at the RIGHT hand of good will be exalted. The ones on the left will be cast out. In Italian, as taken from Latin, the word for left is SINISTRA, i.e., sinister. Hell, lefties even have a shorter lifespan because they die at a far higher rate in accidents. Why? Because they are often out of place in such a righty dominated world.
All these things were always in the back of my mind. Why was I different? Why would people often make fun of my awkwardness? Perhaps I should try to use my right hand more. It sure would be easier.
Then, as a teenager, I read a book that changed that perspective – and life. It was called Lefties. The Origins and Consequences of Being Left-handed by Jack Fincher. Within the pages, the author explained the scientific basis for the dominant use of one side of our bodies over another. Within that science he further explained that because our creative centers our located in the part of the brain that controls left side dominance, many, if not most, of the great Renaissance masters like Leonardo and Michelangelo were left-handed. Many US Presidents in recent memory have been left-handed. Some of our greatest athletes like Babe Ruth are as well. In other words, our difference was not our weakness. Rather, it was a strength – a uniqueness to be admired! And it changed me.
I was no longer awkward in my difference. Instead, I celebrated it. I was PROUD that I was just a little bit different.
I write this in honor of Pride Month and to all my friends and family who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. In the smallest of ways, I understand your struggle, what it is like to be just a bit different. In fact, by most studies the percentage of people identifying as “gay” is about the same as those who are left-handed (7-10%). And I hope that if you haven’t already, you find a book, person, event, or moment that celebrates your difference. And since words matter, let’s change difference to uniqueness. It’s OK to be both. In fact, I kinda’ like it.
Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article are those of this independent writer and not the Nyack News & Views editorial staff. We welcome submissions from anybody who is interested in publishing their thoughts, ideas and perspectives about issues facing our community, both large and small. Please send to info@nyacknewsandviews.com with detailed contact information.
Photo credit: Frank LoBuono