Spotlight: Learning from Our Lefties
I remember the first time someone told me that I tie my shoes weird. Confused, I asked how so, and after comparing shoe tying approaches with more people than I’d like to admit, I realized that I did do it differently than most, thanks to my left handed parents. It was then that I discovered that there is a right handed way and a left handed way to tie shoes. Who knew?!
In Celebration of International Lefthanders Day (Aug. 13), I wanted to dig into what it’s like to be left handed in a world made for right handers, so I interviewed a few of SEEK’s resident lefties: Molly Hug, Celia Cappozzo, and Ryan Helzerman.
Q: What is the BEST part of being a left hander?
“It's a bond my siblings and I share. We are all left handed, while our parents are right handed. Also, I remember being told back in the day they tried to force children to use their right hand as it was considered 'wrong' to be left handed. I've always liked being a rebel!” -Molly
“I like having a tangible marker of being "different". Since I can remember, I have picked up things differently than most -- I have handled things differently than most. And that makes me special. Being left-handed is as fundamental to my identity as gender and religiosity.” -Ryan
Q: What is the HARDEST part of being a left hander?
“It seems that left handers have to adapt to the mostly right handed world, so things like how a car is designed is for the right hander, desks at school, scissors, that kind of thing. I don't really mind because learning to adapt quickly and make something work for you is a great lesson for people.” -Molly
“Using credit card payment machines that don't give you any space for your wrist.” -Celia
“In my 40's, this question ceases to be relevant. In grade school, I couldn't use scissors. Navigating the use of a computer mouse took more effort. But these days, lefthandedness is no longer a handicap.” -Ryan
Q: What do you wish people knew about left handers?
“We are a unique bunch, maybe we use our brains in a slightly different way. But different isn't wrong!” -Molly
“That our brains are different by design.” -Celia
“We interact with the world by peering through a looking glass. That gives us tremendous objectivity, as we see the world reflected back at us vs. feeling truly immersed.” -Ryan
Q: What’s your first memory of being left handed in a world of right handers?
“Scissors in kindergarten. They didn't work for me and I was very puzzled as to why not.” -Molly
“Playing softball as a kid, being taught to use a bat and buying my first softball glove/mitt.” -Celia
“Being slapped. I would naturally pick up crayons/scissors, etc. with my left hand and start using them. There was a period of about 3 months as a toddler when I would get my left hand slapped and the item put into my right hand by my caregivers.” -Ryan
Join us in celebrating this lefthanded holiday by loving on a lefty in your life and thanking them for the unique perspective they bring to our world! (And maybe just don’t bring up anything about them having to use scissors…)