Today is International Lefthanded Day!--
It may sound odd to be celebrating an obscure holiday like that, but if you're a southpaw like I am, it's heartening to know there's one day a year that celebrates the 12-15 percent of us that are "different". Yes, we're a minority that's discriminated against in ways most never consider. When I was little, my mom and teachers did everything they could to correct the "problem," thinking I was simply obstinate. Eventually they gave up and left me to deal with a right-handed world as best I could. School desks were designed for right-handed people as were scissors, ice cream scoops, spiral notebooks and even golf clubs.
Left-handers are forced to adapt all day, every day. After becoming an author and doing book signings, I struggle to avoid the binding, twisting my hand in an awkward position.
But the news isn't all bad. I recently discovered that I’m in good company. Five of the last seven presidents are left-handed including: Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
Some famous—and infamous—lefties include: Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Jack the Ripper, Napoleon Bonaparte, Joan of Arc, the Queen Mother, Prince William, Winston Churchill, Morgan Freeman, Judy Garland, Jimi Hendrix and Sir Paul McCartney.
Today as we celebrate International Left-Handers Day, you right-handers are encouraged to try out left-handed objects to see just how awkward using the wrong equipment really is.
Several years ago, my son brought me a wall-hanging from California that contained an anonymous, but well-known quote. It read, "If the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body then only left-handed people are in their right mind." I rest my case.
Left-handers are forced to adapt all day, every day. After becoming an author and doing book signings, I struggle to avoid the binding, twisting my hand in an awkward position.
But the news isn't all bad. I recently discovered that I’m in good company. Five of the last seven presidents are left-handed including: Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
Some famous—and infamous—lefties include: Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Jack the Ripper, Napoleon Bonaparte, Joan of Arc, the Queen Mother, Prince William, Winston Churchill, Morgan Freeman, Judy Garland, Jimi Hendrix and Sir Paul McCartney.
Today as we celebrate International Left-Handers Day, you right-handers are encouraged to try out left-handed objects to see just how awkward using the wrong equipment really is.
Several years ago, my son brought me a wall-hanging from California that contained an anonymous, but well-known quote. It read, "If the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body then only left-handed people are in their right mind." I rest my case.
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