Lefties--where are you

[ridenread]

Another mixed dominance lefty here. I write and eat with my left hand, get on and off my bike from the left and do just about everything else with the right. Is it any wonder that I terribly directionally challenged and don't know my left from right without thinking about it.

[Skierchickie]

Seriously lefty in nearly everything. When I was a kid, my Dad told me I used a shovel and a broom right-handed (not even sure how there is a left or a right shoveling or sweeping). I use a mouse with the right, but probably because when computer mice came into my life, they were just always ON the right side. I don't switch the buttons or anything.

Don't you just hate pens at banks, etc, that are attached with a chain? ALWAYS on the wrong side, so the chain lies right where you're trying to write.

[Kano]

Don't you just hate pens at banks, etc, that are attached with a chain? ALWAYS on the wrong side, so the chain lies right where you're trying to write.

Never mind those pens on chains: what about those danged credit card things these days? They're IMPOSSIBLE!

And yeah, directionally challenged -- good thing I point the direction I mean when I tell someone that when I get off the lift at the top of the mountain that I'm going left! (I'm working really hard at just saying "that way" when I point!)

Karen in Boise

[marni]

like many others of my generation, I am the daughter of two lefties, but was forcibly trained out of it in school, so I write with my right hand but do nearly everything else left handed. It confuses my trainer who always wants me to start on the right side but perhaps he is dominantly right because he is a former Marine. As I get older, my handwriting deteriates more and more, so my children suggested that I revert to writing with my left hand. I tried that and it didn't work at all so now I am illegible in both hands.

One tip I read years ago said one way to keep your brain flexible is to do activities you normally do with your right hand, with your left. I tried reversing everything but nearly stabbed myself to death in the gums so I think I need to rethink that one.

marni

[artifactos]

I write left handed. I kick with better aim with my left foot. However, I use a mouse, scissors, knife, and throw with my right hand.

I've dated a couple lefties, but I'm dating a right-hander now. After 8 months, he is FINALLY remembering where to seat the two of us in relation to one another at a restaurant so we don't elbow each other.

[Bike Chick]

I'm a righty but am married to a lefty. I've been reading your posts aloud to him and he's enjoying what he's hearing. Kano, his big complaint also are the credit card machines at cash registers. He also says that store clerks will always hand you a pen in your right hand and he hates spiral bound notebooks. He never thought about what hand he uses to reach his water bottle or which side he unclips first until I mentioned it. Second nature I guess.

[MommyBird]

My husband and I are both righties with lefty tendencies. We are both left-eye dominant. I am left leg dominant which was great for dancing. I would learn a move on the right and then it would be an easy transition to the left.

We have two lefty sons. Neither is a complete lefty. It is funny to see what they choose to do lefty and what they choose to do righty. It is not the same. For example, one plays pool lefty and the other righty. They are both lefties in archery and righties in tennis. Dad is the only family member who throws a frisbee lefty.

Luckily our guitar playing son plays righty and we have not had to hunt down lefty versions. He plays bass, acoustic, electric and the mandolin.

It can be pretty confusing at our house.

[Crankin]

This is interesting. My DH was a lefty and was forced to switch by mean old lady teachers in inner city Philadelphia. His mom is a lefty. One of my kids is a lefty, but as a musician, he plays guitar righty and uses a mouse with his right hand. He played baseball as a lefty, though. As a kid, he had horrible problems with fine motor coordination, as do I. He still can barely zipper and button, as an adult (like me). However, he is a good athlete, cyclist, runner, kayaker. My other son is a righty, but as a young teen was into archery and we found out he was left eyed, thus shot the bow as a lefty. He is extremely coordinated and mechanical, thankfully, not inheriting my issues.

[Skierchickie]

Hmmm - it never occurred to me that my credit card machine issues were a lefty/righty thing. I do have trouble, though. What is the problem, anyway? That the strip is on the side of the card facing away from you when you stand with it in your left hand, so you can't see whether it's up or down? I can't quite put my finger on it. I do know that I bumble around with those, anyway.

[DebW]

Hmmm - it never occurred to me that my credit card machine issues were a lefty/righty thing. I do have trouble, though. What is the problem, anyway? That the strip is on the side of the card facing away from you when you stand with it in your left hand, so you can't see whether it's up or down? I can't quite put my finger on it. I do know that I bumble around with those, anyway.

The problem is trying to sign your name on the electronic pad when there is no place to rest your hand. And sometimes the pad doesn't register your signature properly because your hand drags across the writing area while you sign. I also have problems with some ATM machines when the keypad is on the right side. If you stand centered so you can see the screen, then it is extremely awkward to use the keypad with your left hand.

[Serendipity]

Another lefty here!
Write with my left hand, do some things with my right and others I can do with either hand.....!
I think a lot of the ambidexterity comes from adapting to a 'right-handed' world. So many utensils are designed for right handed people: can openers, sewing machines, addings machines (in the days when there were adding machines ) and so on and so on.
But let's not forget: left handed people are the only ones in their right minds!

[VeloVT]

I'm a lefty. My left eye is dominant, but I'm right-footed and fairly ambidextrous at most things other than writing. If I'm drawing or painting on a large scale, I sometimes find myself using my right hand. I have a hard time on the tennis court sticking to one forehand side and one backhand side!

[Kano]

I've dated a couple lefties, but I'm dating a right-hander now. After 8 months, he is FINALLY remembering where to seat the two of us in relation to one another at a restaurant so we don't elbow each other.

Only eight months?

I've been married to my right-hander for over thirty years now and he has NEVER figured that out!

I figure we lefties are generally more flexible and more adaptable -- we have to be to survive!

Karen in Boise