Lefty Love: What Makes Us Different
by 
Liberty on December 10th, 2007
As we all bid adieu to Sara, the fact that she was a lefty, I am a lefty, and co-blogger Liz is a lefty, got me thinking that not only are lefties quite possibly the coolest group of peeps ever, but there must be some traits we all have that lead us down similar life paths. Naturally, I also wanted to know if being a lefty meant anything in the health department. Here are some interesting factoids I unearthed. Any southpaws out there, weigh in with any thoughts and observations of your own.
- According to data published this past July, there has been a gene found that might possibly account for left-handedness. Unfortunately, that same gene may indicate a slightly increased risk for developing psychotic mental disorders such as schizophrenia. Super.
- A UK study has shown that lefties may be a smidge more vulnerable than righties to diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), colitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.
- Stuttering and dyslexia occur more often in lefties, particularly those who have been forced to take on right-handed tendencies by parents, teachers, or society.
So there’s some good news along with your morning coffee, eh? Actually, these risks are all said to be quite minimal, and there are plenty of cool traits that lefties have, so it’s not all bad. Here they are:
- Lefties are not plagued with a shorter life span as once was thought. The original study claiming this myth had a million holes in it and was proven unfounded. Phew.
- Southpaws adapt more easily to seeing underwater. Woot! A new excuse to go diving in Hawaii!
- Lefties tend to really excel in hand-eye sports such as tennis, baseball and fencing. And given that underwater factoid from above, it’s no surprise that they also rock it out in swimming.
- 4 out of 5 of the original Mac designers were left handed. And we all know how I feel about Macs, wink-wink.
- Lefties can generally think more quickly when carrying out tasks like playing computer games and sports.
- Lefties tend to reach puberty 4 to 5 months later than righties. Which, of course, is excellent news for the Mommas all across the world.
So there you have it. Given the photo above, it’s pretty easy to see why Sara, Liz and I all ended up at Healthbolt. We southpaws have emotion and creativity, definite traits required for blogging. We also have a love and appreciation of the whacked-out human body, so while we wish Sara all the best, Liz and I are wholly looking forward to making Healthbolt even better than ever.
Long live lefties!
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7 opinions for Lefty Love: What Makes Us Different
Dec 10, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Well, welcome to this killer blog you. Great post too. My situation is unique. Unlike you (sort of shocking isn’t it) I’m right handed. However, I was the ONLY right handed person in my house. In a world of righties that was sort of weird. In the real world life is easy for right handed folks but at my house left hand things ruled — try cutting with left handed scissors being a right handed girl.
My family was all big on left handed things. The’s rant about us right handed people. My sister even wrote some sort of college thesis deal about it. Still, guess I have less of a chance of developing a psychotic mental disorder then the rest of them, so I suppose that’s in my favor. Unless of course they ALL develop psychotic disorders and then I’m in big trouble.
Dec 10, 2007 at 6:37 pm
“They’d rant” not “The’s rant” bah!
Dec 10, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Hey, Jennifer. Thanks for stopping in. It’s great to be here and I’m glad you found me. :)
So you’re a rightie, eh? In a house full of lefties, no less? Wow, that sounds like quite an oddity. But surprisingly, it’s not. The research I did for this post showed that it’s perfectly normal and even sort of common for a left-handed couple to have a right-handed child, and vice-versa. Weird, huh?
As for the psych disorders, well, good luck with that one. Here’s to hoping NONE of you acquire such things. ;)
Dec 11, 2007 at 2:35 am
Great post. Sounds like the world would be a better place if it was ruled by lefties. Wonder how many world leaders are left-handers - not many, I imagine. Maybe it should be a campaign slogan - vote for the leftie, they see the whole picture.
Dec 11, 2007 at 7:44 am
I’ve been in health care about 25 yrs and have always noticed a larger number of our brethren (and sistren?) in the clinics. Out of 4 siblings, 3 of us are lefty’s. The nun’s were able to convert the older 2, but when I write with my right hand I write mirror, letters in the proper order, but reversed, really freaked them out, they left me alone after that.
It’s nice to know one of my favorite sites is being run by fellow “10 pecenter’s”
Dec 12, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Hi Paul B,
Writing mirrored is freaky! Way to get those nuns to back off! ;)
We’re glad you like the site and and now you know that it’s even better because it’s written with Lefty Love. :)
Dec 28, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Well I’m right handed but looking at the different sort of “qualities” of lefties and righties I always though I should be left handed. I took one of those quizzes and it said I’m about 65% right brained, and 35% left brained.
I really like to keep organised and make…oh! A butterfly.
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