Being a leftie

I have to admit that yes I am left handed and have been all my life. My parents didn't force me to be right-handed and in some ways being a leftie is a challenge. Have you really looked around and looked at the number of things that are a whole lot easier for someone right-handed to do than they are for a left-handed person.

Here are some examples:

1. Turning a door handle, that is backwards to me.

2. Using a manual can-opener – yes the turning part is on the right side.

3. Using a video camera – controls are for someone using their right hand.

4. Cameras – controls are on the right side.

5. Opening doors – you open the right door which is harder for something that is a leftie.

6. Putting screws into something – they turn backwards (well to me they do).

I am not saying that everything is harder for a leftie but I have to admit that there are challenges that we face almost on a daily basis. I have actually had to invest in a pair of scissors made for a leftie because it was easier to cut fabric with them as opposed to the ones made for right-handed people.

Now one of the biggest challenges that I have faced all of my life is dealing with those rings in a binder or even the coils in a coil notebook. There are always in my way and that can be very frustrating. The way I got around that through school was with I was using a binder I would take the sheets of paper out of the binder at the beginning of the class and take my notes and then put the paper back into the binder at the end of class. As for the coil notebooks if you see me writing you may or may not notice that I am writing from the back of the book forward so that the coil is on the right side of the page when I do most of my writing.

Another thing that I do differently than a lot of people is where my mobile device is on my belt. I wear my mobile device on the left side as it is so much easier to get it out and put it back into it's holster. It is fun to look at people with their devices and sometimes you can actually figure out if they are left or right handed. If you notice that Barack Obama is a leftie and he did wear is mobile device on his left side as well.

There have been a lot of famous lefties in history which is great. Of course there is always going to be challenges for different groups of people and being a leftie is just one of those groups. Next time you try and do something, especially if you are right-handed, do it with your opposite hand and see what it is like.

I always say that being a leftie is OK because I have been able to make my way through all the various challenges and I will continue to do so. I may do things a little differently than most people but that's fine with me because I am me.

Challenges continue

This past week I decided to go to a couple of shows which I normally enjoy going to and seeing all the new ideas of things that I can do.  This time it was a different experience and one that I wasn't too happy about.  This year, it was seeing all the things that I currently cannot do while wearing the splint.

Both shows made me realize how much I really do with my hands and how much this splint is impacting my daily life.  The challenges continue and are sometimes harder than other times.  Trying to open a childproof bottle that doesn't want to be opened with one hand.  Yes, those are some of the things that I have had to deal with over the last little while.  Little things that don't seem like much to most people, but when you can't use one of your thumbs, you find out how hard it can be. 

Other challenges are trying to pick up pieces of paper with my left hand, putting on a necklace, and even tying my own shoelaces.  These are things that we do on a normal basis and don't think much about but try doing these things without your prime thumb.

Each challenge that I encounter shows me a different way to handle the simple things.  Sometimes it's a quick solution and another time it takes a little longer to figure out how to accomplish something.  The challenges are going to continue over the next few weeks and I know that, but the one thing I can say it these challenges are going temporary.

Think of what you face each day and think of people that have permanent disabilities and think of how they face their challenges.

Facing challenges

Everyone faces challenges during their life, and right now I am facing a challenge of trying to deal with a broken thumb on my dominate (left) hand.  Yes, it is tough currently, but I do know that things will get better after this.  I am finding that so many things that I do with my left hand are a little harder with my right hand.

See I am wearing a brace on my left thumb which prevents me from bending my thumb, but it also means that I can't feel when I am holding anything with that finger either.  Some of the challenges have been easy to overcome like holding a glass of water, but other things like picking up pieces of paper aren't so easy.

This brace is going to be part of my life for between 12 and 18 weeks, so I know I will learn how to deal with all the challenges, but it does get frustrating.  One thing I have learned through this is how much I do use my left hand and how little I use my right hand.  I know that after all of this, I am going to be able to use my right hand for more things without thinking.  The other thing that I have learned through this is sometimes you need to ask for help when you can't do something yourself.  Don't be afraid to ask for that help.

Facing challenges is something that we all do quite often, so when you get an additional challenge to face you just deal with it and move on.