Right Handed? Don’t Feel Left Out

What do Barack Obama, George Micheal, Sarah Jessica Parker, Phil Collins, Dan Akroyd, Bart Simpson, and Angelina Jolie all have in common? Well, for one they are awesome, but that’s not the topic of this blog now is it?! All of these famous people are left-handed and likely to be celebrating International Lefthanders Day on August 13th! A group called Lefthanders International first observed this holiday on August 13, 1976. This organization promotes awareness of the strife faced by someone who is a leftie living in a predominantly right-handed world. It also celebrates the unique characteristic that sets apart approximately 10% of the world’s population. Our own left-handed BodyCandy staff member Janna said “Left-handed people are the only ones in their right mind.”

It is a common complaint of most left-handed individuals that many household tools such as can openers, knives, and scissors are designed for primarily right handed use. This leaves them at a great disadvantage. Many people have to shop at specialty left handed stores. Even the pop-culture icon that is “The Simpsons” features a Leftie store that is called the Leftorium owned by Ned Flanders. I have always noticed that it was interesting that there is such a high amount of left-handed characters in the cartoon series. These characters include Bart Simpson, Seymour Skinner, Ned Flanders, Moe Szyslak, Mr. Burns, and Marge Simpson. This is because Matt Groening, the show’s creator, is himself a leftie and a very proud promoter of International Lefthanders Day!

Looking back into history it is found that there are many famous left-handed artists including Albrecht Dürer, M.C. Escher, Michelangelo ,Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci. Even the earliest members of the left-handed community were talented artists. Studies of early cave drawings have indicated a preference for the left hand. Stone Age tools discovered seem equally divided for use with left and right hands. When tools became more sophisticated, a clear hand preference emerged. The preference of using one’s right hand may have originated in sun worship.

So Lefties everywhere unite and celebrate! Happy International Lefthanders Day!