Before you ask -- yes, I'm left-handed. We left-handers, are a rare breed, making up a mere ten percent of the population.
We go through many daily struggles that you right-handed people might not realize. But, even though we ride the struggle bus when completing the most simple, everyday tasks, knowing that there's only a handful of people in the world as rare as us, is kind of cool. Which of these seemingly simple tasks or objects do you have trouble with?
1. Having to use a spiral notebook upside down
Nobody actually wants to write in their spiral notebook this way, but sometimes it's necessary. If not, we are left with a spiral engraving in our arm for the next hour.
2. Or risk being engraved with spiral marks down your hand and arm
Theses are annoying and sometimes painful depending on how long you have been writing, but nonetheless, definitely not wanted.
3. Credit card swipes are on the wrong side
This seems like such a #firstworldproblem, but imagine this: you have a large purse, your newly bought items from the store, and maybe your phone, a drink, or your keys. Either way, you've got a handful, to say the least, and having to adjust your belongings and stretch your left arm all the way to the right side of the card swipe can be such a demanding task.
4. On the first day of class, this is all you see
I cannot begin to describe the frustration that this creates in my body. Who's in charge of putting the desks in the classrooms and lecture halls? I just want to speak to them. I mean, I know we're rare, but we do exist!
5. Then after searching, only finding two in a classroom of 70 desks
What if, by some chance, there ends up being five lefties in a class? What are you going to do now? Sure, you could just suck it up and sit in a right-handed desk, but let me tell you, it is torture.
6. Writing in a binder is just a distant dream you have
We left-handers don't have the gift of being able to write in binders. Those stupid metal rings get in the way of everything.
7. You're permanently marked for life
It's like a left-hander's special marking. Everywhere you go if you see this on someone's left hand, you know they're a lefty. We try to act cool and show it off, but really it's just annoying.
8. The ends of pens unscrew as you use them
Since we push the pen into the paper the same way as it screws on, pens are always unscrewing as we write with them. Oh, joy.
9. Bumping elbows with righties in class or at a restaurant
This is something that I need to plan out in my head before I go to a restaurant with multiple people. There's a specific seating arrangement that needs to be done. And if for some reason you can't be accommodated for, well, time to squeeze your arms in.
10. The endless theories about lefties
My favorite one is that we all secretly worship satan.
11. Ballpoint pens don't work properly
I don't fully understand this myself, but I have experienced it many times. It's something to do with the ballpoint of a pen and the direction left-handers write in that makes the pen not fully work.
12. Sports are a disaster
More than half the time there is never any left-handed equipment and if there is, it's the old crappy things no one wants to use. Why does no one take us lefties into account?
13. Scissors are a modern day torture device
Most people have right-handed scissors in their household. When lefties try to use these, it is a pain in our rear end to get these to work, if we get them to work at all!
14. Dry erase boards are pointless
Your arm just erases everything you write.
15. "Are you left-handed?!"
Clearly, I am writing with my left hand, but people still find the need to ask me this famous question. Then, when I say yes, they stare at me in disbelief as if I'm some wild zoo animal.
16. Can openers are one big NOPE
These are terrible because you need to use them on the right side of a can in order to work, which means lefties have to get in an awkward position to make these things do their job.
17. Adjusting the time on your watch is not an option
Since most people wear their watches on their left hand, this is just another hassle that lefties have to put effort into doing. Ugh, who wants to do that.
