Happy left handers’ day, from all the righties
13 August marks the 24th annual International left-handers day. This is what it means to be left-handed.
MBOMBELA – On behalf of all the right-handed people of the world, I would like to wish all the lefties a happy Left Handers’ Day. Also, on behalf of all the righties, I would like to apologise for making your life a tad more difficult.
For the past 24 years August 13 has been dedicated to celebrate left-handed people. According to Scientific American, about 10 per cent of the world’s population is left-handed.
The day has definitely served its purpose by creating awareness of the challenges lefties face every day. Right-handed people take for granted the tools which are supposed to ease our life in general.
Things like can openers, scissors and guitars are generally designed for right-handed people – something they don’t always remember.
Lowvelder caught up with one of its former employees, Wouter Pienaar, who enjoys playing guitar and – occasionally – a round of golf. He happens to be a leftie.
It’s annoying when your friends invite you for a game of golf and they say ‘I have an extra pair of clubs’. It really isn’t that easy.
Pienaar continued by saying one of the most annoying things is writing with a gel pen or any other pen that gives off a lot of ink. “Before you’re even done writing, your work is smudged and your hand is full of ink.”
The 24-year-old journalist is also a keen musician – a guitarist, in particular.
“I needed to special order my guitar because not all shops stock left-handed ones. Not only is it frustrating to have to wait, but it is also more expensive.”
However, it is not all gloom for left handers.
“I read somewhere that when lefties break their left hand, it is easier for them to adapt to using their right one because they have spent their whole lives having to adapt to right-handed tools.
When right-handed people have to start using their left, it is totally weird for them.
Here’s to celebrating the lefties. If you are right-handed, try to switch hands while doing basic chores, like cutting vegetables, brushing your hair, turning the door knob or having a drink.
Happy Left Handers’ Day!
