Do you feel the odd one out being left-handed? No need to worry, you are among the likes of Robert Di Niro, Angelina Jolie, Sarah Jessica Parker and Prince William who will also be cele-brating their lefty gift!
Left-handed people have struggled for most of their life searching for the perfect non-smudge pen or needing to sit at a specifically left-handed designed desk to allow them to get on with their work like any other person.
With as little as 10% of the population being left-handed, today marks the day where left-handed people are celebrated!
In light of international left-handed awareness day, here are 5 reasons why being left-handed is great:
1. You are unique!
With only 10% of the population being left-handed, you are one of the very few who can proud-ly answer, ‘left’ to the question – what hand do you write with? In addition to that, you normally stem a reaction when answering the word left. Most people wonder how you manage being left-handed or often find it, “interesting”. So, instead of feeling different to the majority, feel proud of your left-handed identity!
2. U.S Presidents are left-handed
Have you not found your dream job yet? Well, maybe it is because you are destined to be the next president! In the USA, the past 5 leaders – other than George W Bush – have all been left-handed.
Not forgetting our lefties in the Royal family including, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Prince William.
Perhaps, left-handers have had to think more logically about simple tasks which has increased their brain activity on both sides! The real reason behind the presidency is unknown but still, it is not a bad statistic to go by!
3. Historical Background
While being left-handed might have causes you some difficulty in the past, historically, left-handed people were considered inferior, after being associated with the idea of witchcraft.
4. Athletic Advantage
Since only a small percentage of the population are left-handed, playing sport against one of these people might be trickier than playing again your usual right hander.
Most sports people are used to playing against right-handed people, therefore, they are used to right-handed habits. However, when coming up against a left-handed opponent, players are less likely to predict or recognise left-handed actions.
Tennis has a great track record of producing the best left-handers sports people including, the incredible Martina Navratilova and Rafael Nadal.
5. Higher IQ
St. Lawrence University conducted IQ tests among right- and left- handed people. The results discovered that there were more left-handed people with IQs over 140 than those with the domi-nant right hands.
You might not believe the test is accurate, but in support, both Benjamin Franklin and Isaac Newton were lefties!