Living as a Left-Handed Person in a Right-Handed World

As a left-hander, or right-hander, my perspective on the world has always been different from the majority. These ranged from being looked at differently every time I ate or did something with my left hand to being advised that that wasn’t the correct way to do things (pun intended). To inform the less informed, we are right-handed/left-handed 10% of the world’s population so we are not that far away, look around you will find simple left handed people trying to fit in this world. I found an interesting article that provides useful insight for the less informed people here.

Over my 35 years, I have faced many challenges as a left-hander, from pens that don’t work to difficulty writing with a spiral binder and using a pencil. However, instead of dwelling on these issues, I want to share the unique adaptations and preferences I’ve developed over the years.

One of my most significant habits is my love of typing by hand. I’ve always hated writing, from the way I hold a pen to the overall difficulty of a writing instrument designed for right-handed people. Inventing the keyboard, and initially the typewriter, was a breakthrough for me. Typing allowed me to express my thoughts quickly, and I immediately honed my skills. The only downside is that I type quite hard, so only a mechanical keyboard can withstand my enthusiastic keystrokes.

Another challenge I faced was using a computer mouse. Between 2000 and 2008, I struggled with right-handed mouse designs until I found the perfect solution: the trackpad. For me, the trackpad is a great innovation because it allows me to work more efficiently, no matter which hand I use. The introduction of a multi-touch trackpad on the Apple MacBook is another important improvement, providing a larger surface area for smoother operation.

This preference for the trackpad means I prefer working on a laptop and single screen over a more extensive setup. It took me a while to realize that it was the mouse that was holding me back, but once I found a solution by placing the trackpad on the left side, my workflow improved significantly. However, there are some unintended side effects: because I prefer typing to writing, I’ve never considered journaling, and I tend to collect digital items while avoiding physical clutter.

As a left-hander, I constantly discover new aspects of my behavior patterns that stem from my left-handedness. But keep in mind that not everyone struggles with the same or similar things and I may be making a big deal out of it. But then this is my blog, my life and my story and I decide how to share it, and today I decided to share this little piece of my life with everyone who reads this, See you next time.