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When I was a wee lad my Dad taught me how to swing a baseball bat. He was a big time player in the old industrial softball leagues that used to exist in and around Chicago in the 40's and 50's and he could hit a 16 inch softball as far as a major league player can hit a hardball. So he taught me to swing. I was too young to learn the intrinsic mechanics of the act of swinging, he just taught me how to hold the bat and swing at the ball. That, and the fact that I am left handed and he taught me to swing right handed will come into this, later.
When I was twenty five years old I started playing golf. As much as I love the game, in all the years I have played I have never learned to play well. It's my swing. You see, I'm left handed but I swing right handed. When I say that, what you don't get, yet, is the I am VERY left handed. And when I swing a club, everything happens from the left side of my body, when it REALLY needs to happen from the right. Did I mention I am very left handed? No matter how much I try, it just doesn't seem to work properly for me. And if I turn it around and try to swing left handed, I feel VERY uncomfortable and uncoordinated. Because I was taught to swing right handed at a very young age.
There are people who live their whole lives feeling like that. Like no matter what they do they're swinging righty when they should be swinging lefty. Like they're always just slightly out of step. Like they never do anything right.
Me? I'm going to learn how to swing left handed. I know I'll be able to play a better game once I get it down. Because when all is said and done, I AM very left handed and it's what I should have been doing all along. However, knowing what I have to do does NOT mean it's going to be easy. Or quick. And there's no REAL guarantee it will ultimately work out, but it makes sense and it sure doesn't work this way. At least I have a goal now. Something to work at.
The people leading the 'lefty in a righty world' lives? They often need help. They often fall to problems and issues that aren't always their fault. Like depression and anxiety. And addiction. Sometimes all they need is guidance. All they need is a little help. Now read the next paragraph - repeated here from yesterday and will be repeated tomorrow.
Zoeyjane of Mommy is Moody is DOING something. She is donating all the revenue from her advertisements on her site, for this month, to To Write Love On Her Arms. Go to Zoeyjane's site and read This Post. She gets paid by 'Impressions'. Just going there helps. Click on her ads - and help more. Click through to To Write Love On Her Arms and see what they do. Just doing that will help, too. This paragraph is going to appear at the end of each post, each day until the end of the month. As a reminder. Just click through. And help. Save the women and men and boys and girls that don't need to live without love, that don't need to suffer addiction and depression, that don't need to die.
Peace.
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24 comments:
Ooooohhh, yes, I can totally relate to this! I am left handed too. VERY left handed, just like you. When something falls, and I try to catch it, it's always my left hand that reaches out first. Things I spontaneously are always done with my left hand.
When I was seven they taught me how to write, and I tried to use my left hand of course. But that was not what they wanted, it HAD to be right handed, and the nuns at school slapped me until I did it "right". I was a nightmare in the arts and crafts class.
I write right handed, and I use a scissor with my right hand too. They went through all that trouble and all I ever learned to do properly with my right hand is that! When it comes to using kitchen knives, there's the old lefty again!
I think you will get a better swing from the left, once you get the hang out of it, yes!
So perfectly done, Lou, a real life metaphor for something different that some are facing. Wow. Cool.
i'm another lefty in a righty's world. i get what you're saying. yet, playing baseball, left-handed suited me, since all the fielders were on the wrong side of the field. well, for the first hit anyway, heee heee heee.
and i just want to thank you for your comment yesterday. strangely enough, that is EXACTLY what my coucillor suggested to me too... i'm getting the hint of a trend here, time to get with the programme, heee heee heee
Well, I'm ambidexturous. Left over from an old wrestling team injury, when I had no use of my right hand for a couple of months. But regardless of which way I swing, my golf game has always sucked. I blame the boobs being in the way, and I'm sticking to that.
I'm a switch-hitter.
Just sayin.....
I am left-handed and you know this because I have mentioned that in my blog. Not only am I left-handed in a right-handed world, I am Jewish in a Christian society. So, I have a lot of experience looking at and doing from the opposite side of "home plate". I bat and play golf left-handed, as well as write, draw and paint that way too. I played hard ball until I was almost 18. I loved baseball. The only disadvantage is that left-handers can only play the outfield, 1st base and pitcher. The other infield positions are reserved for right-handers. I used to love to play catcher in fast-pitch softball because I got to play in the infield and be close to the action. I played right field in hard ball and watched the action from the outfield. Did you know there is a web site out of England for left-handers?
As for blaming your boobs for not playing golf well Zoeyjane, I on this one have to take up for the boobs, that's an unfair excuse. Lou and I love boobs.
Jientje: The Nuns tried to make me a righty, as well. In fact, I did a post about it, which I will link to tomorrow.
Maggies Mind: Thank you, Maggie. You're pretty cool, yourself.
Shadow: You have SO much in you. I hope you find your 'contribution'.
Zoeyjane: There is a comment by Moneythoughts that pretty much reflects my thinking.
Christy: Between you and Zoeyjane you're TRYING to give me ammunition, here, aren't you?
Moneythoughts: No, I did not know about the web site for left handers. And yes, you and I have at least that much in common.
I know the feeling Lou. I love your metaphor as well! You really do have incredible insight...
My dad's ambidextrous. It's brilliant to watch him cut down a tree. He tosses the 'cutlass' from left hand to right after every 3-5 strokes. Very rhythmical.
Anyway I think he's passed on traces of it to me but not all - I am very right handed when it comes to writing BUT I deal cards with my left hand, when I pick up a needle to sew on a button my instinct is to use my left hand.
My legs are pretty odd too. Most people have a dominant leg - they start running races with that leg for example, and learn to do their first cartwheel with that leg in front. For me, that's my right leg. BUT if I'm wake boarding or water skiing or stepping onto a skate board it's my left leg that wants the lead. I have to stop before I start any sport and assess which leg needs the lead. Odd!
Wow sorry about the long comment
Tash: Long comments are welcome. As far as your legs are concerned, I think ... nevermind.
There was a period of time when I tried to be left handed, I was suffering serious nerve pain in my right arm and could not write without extreme pain. I tried everything that I could to write with my left hand and I couldn't even hold the pen correctly. I made all my "e"s backwards. I got so frustrated. What it gave me was a good understanding of how difficult it must be for lefthanded people being forced to do things with the right hand.
A good metaphor for other things in life as well...
What a perfect analogy.
Mr Hyphen shoulda been a lefty but was forced into right-handedness. Mack is a lefty... and he's going to stay that way!
Honestly, I didn't realize there were such limitations on lefties until I read Fred's comment.
Perfect analogy Lou. And thank you for leading me to Zoeyjane.
My dad is EXTREMELY left handed too. For a few years Hubs and I though our son might be too, but nope, just horrible handwriting. I still think your analogy works for him though. He is definitely a lefty in a righty world.
I'm the opposite of ambidextrous- neither of my hands work that well. The right's a LITTLE better than the left.
Too tired to write a witty comment. Plus I'm not left handed, so I can't relate too well.
But I have a wee button up, linking to the cause. Not a pretty one, but I never said I'm a designer, no? ;)
Hope it helps!
I'm left handed too!
I love the way you presented this. I can certainly relate on many levels. I'm very right-handed, but have always performed sports left-handed. Even dance. I never knew why.
Hockeychic: I went through that agony of forced right-handedness in 2nd grade.
Hyphen Mama: Lefties don't play the infield because the throw from the wrong side.
Honeybell: Oh, you're welcome, Honey.
Tara R: It's just that 'out of step' thing some people get into.
Loraine: As long as you can click the shutter on your camera - you're okay.
Nicole: It helps. greatly.
Cathy: All us good people are left handed!
Momisodes: So now you know? Early training, right?
Oddly, Knute's teacher asked me today if he's a leftie. It seemed that way early on, then he sorta flipped - but now it depends on what he's doing. He seems to hold pens left & eats right. Odd kid.
AFF: There is a thing called mixed-handedness. Also called cross dominance. It is often not recognized in a person because the writing hand is what people usually adopt as their 'handedness'. But is is normal.
I am also very left-handed. I think my little boy is cross dominant. My husband seems to show strong ability in both hands too.
I'm a Lefty Lucy caught in a Righty Tighty world indeed. And my golf swing? Have you seen Happy Gilmore? Yeah... that's my swing only without the contact made.
That is a great metaphor, Lou...
Not only am I a leftie, but I am also a liberal/progressive married to an Army guy, which at times is like being a fish in a movie theater.
And I golf right-handed, but putt leftie. I learned to swing a bat from my right-handed brothers, I guess...I golfed leftie for a while, then tried swinging rightie and it felt more natural. But putting, I have to do it left. Partly probably because my left eye is dominant, and because my brothers never taught me to putt.
Doesn't really matter, because I suck at it. I only golf at casual courses, and only with people who do not take the game seriously.
Tash: I'm like you. I'm right handed, but I deal out cards with my left (so my right thumb is moving the cards to my left hand). When I use a knife to cut, the knife is in my left hand. When I shovel or sweep, I'm always flipping sides.
son & Hubby are left handed, I knew Little Man was a lefty early on. When he would pike up a Cheerio, he'd transfer it to his left hand to put in his Mouth.
The Verdict is still out for Baby Girl. I think she's going to be right hand more dominate, but possibly ambidextrous.
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