As a lefty, or southpaw, my perspective of the world has always been different from the majority. Right from being looked upon differently whenever I eat or do things with left hand to being suggested that its not the right way of doing things (pun intended). To inform those uninformed we the lefties / southpaws are 10% of the world’s population so we are not that far away look around you will find a unassuming lefty trying to fit in this world. I found an interesting article which provides helpful insight for uninformed people here.
Throughout my 35 years, I’ve encountered numerous challenges as a lefty, ranging from pens not working to the difficulty of writing in spiral binders and using pencils. 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 quirks is my love for typing over handwriting. I’ve always despised writing, from the way pens are held to the overall difficulties of writing tools designed for right-handers. Discovering keyboards, and initially typewriters, was a game-changer for me. Typing allowed me to quickly express my thoughts, and I soon honed my skills. The only downside was that I typed quite hard, so only mechanical keyboards could withstand my enthusiastic keystrokes.
Another challenge I faced was using a computer mouse. Between 2000 and 2008, I struggled with the right-handed design of mice until I found the perfect solution: trackpads. For me, trackpads were a fantastic innovation, as they allowed me to work more efficiently regardless of which hand I used. The introduction of multitouch trackpads on Apple MacBooks was another life upgrade, providing a larger surface for smoother operations.
This preference for trackpads led me to favor working on laptops and single screens instead of more extensive setups. It took me a while to realize that it was the mouse holding me back, but once I found a solution by placing the trackpad on the left side, my workflow improved significantly. However, there were some unintended side effects: since I preferred typing to writing, I never considered journaling, and I tended to accumulate digital goods while avoiding physical clutter.
As a left-handed person, I’m continuously discovering new aspects of my behavior patterns that stem from my handedness. However it should be kept in mind that not everyone is struggling with same or simmilar things and I might be making mountain out of mole hole. But then this is my blog my life and my story and I decided how to share it, and today i have decided to share this small part of my life with all those who read this, Till next time.
Originally Posted on: https://blog.anantshri.info/life-as-a-lefty-in-a-right-handed-world/