Years ago, I injured my hand while pruning. I felt pain, but did that stop me? No. I continued my humongous yard cleanup project until my thumb throbbed. In my misery, I saw a physical therapist specializing in hands, who said my wrist was the culprit-not carpel tunnel or arthritis, which I suppose was good news. It was a good job that I had decided to make an appointment with a professional, like those you can find at this Physical therapy ann arbor clinic because now I had a firm diagnosis about what was causing the pain in my hands. So hopefully, with their help and expertise, I will learn how to manage this condition in the best way possible, and one that can help to decrease my pain and discomfort.
Writing for an extended time, the old-fashioned way with a pencil and paper, leaves me with an aching reminder. I get my best ideas writing by hand and love to journal. I wrote most of A Portrait of Marguerite by hand and then transposed it onto my trusty computer.
Several times I’ve read about or seen demonstrations on TV suggesting that switching from using the dominant hand to the non-dominant is an excellent way to energize one’s brain, especially in the memory department. Wouldn’t it be fun to meet people and automatically recall their names?
Another technique to keeping one’s brain engaged is to write with your non-dominant hand, which would have come in useful when I first injured it. Some people are ambidextrous, but I’m not one of them. I’m strictly a right-hander. Yet, for the sake of expanding my gray matter, I may give it a try again. I’ve attempted brushing my teeth with my left hand; it’s a clumsy process. Eating with the wrong hand is slow and awkward too.
My artistic and intelligent mother was left-handed, and so is my husband. He plays several sports with one hand and some with the other. He’s a great multi-tasker and can type faster than I can. Not fair. And he remembers people’s names. There has been much debate through the centuries about who is mentally and physically superior, right-handers or lefties.
This week, I’m going to strive to use my left hand more, especially in the yard. And I’m going to meet at least one new person and remember his or her name. For more than a day.
Were you born a left-hander and forced to use your right hand? Are you equally proficient with each hand? Which do you favor? Are you game for trying to use your “wrong hand” for the sake of growing more gray matter? Leave a comment and enter to win a signed copy of Leaving Lancaster or Pennsylvania Patchwork. USA & Canada. Winner has one week to respond.
Congratulations to Candee F, winner of a signed copy of Leaving Lancaster or Pennsylvania Patchwork!
I’ve tries my Left hand but never really got any where with it . Might just try it again to remember names better . This is interesting , never knew what it would help .
Thanks for the info .
I sure wish my left hand would cooperate better, Mary! Same goes for my memory when it comes to names. Like the woman sitting next to me at church on Sunday … I hope she can’t recall mine either. Yet, another woman told me her name once and it locked into my brain. Thanks for writing! I always enjoy hearing from you!
I am a leftie. My late father, both of my sisters and my late son were/are also lefties. I sew and brush my teeth with my right hand but, do everything else with my left. Please accept my entryt in yet another of your wonderful giveaway. I would love to have a copy of Pennsylvania Patchwork. Thank you.
You are amazing, Mary! So versatile. Switching off hands would be such a gift for me. Thanks for entering the book giveaway and good luck!
I’m a right hander all the way….and I used to love to write with ink pens because they were so pretty. now my husband is a left hander also, but does a lot of things right handed…so he has the best of both worlds. plus he has a beautiful beautiful handwriting.
You sound like me, Virginia, married to a man with the best of both worlds. Well, they have us, which is hard to beat, even if we’re strictly right-handers. I do love to write by hand. Is cursive writing even taught in schools anymore? Thanks for entering the contest!
Such a nice post. I loved the kids on the FB post, also. I think you have the best blog! I really enjoy reading it every new post! Sonja dot Nishimoto at gmail dot com
Thanks for writing and for your kind words, Sonya! I appreciate your encouragement!
Most of my family takes after our father who was left handed, when I was born “they” tried to change lefthanders to use their right hands thus I write right handed… but I cut, play raquet games left handed. Can write a bit left handed but more like scribbles. Can sweep either hand. I don’t remember names well anymore, use to remember very well until menopause hit and know have a hard time with names, as you get older you tend to let things go if they aren’t important.
I wonder how many left-handers are like you, Lucy, and were forced to write with their right hands. If you can play racquet games and cut left-handed, it sounds as though you are on the verge of being ambidextrous. I’ve always had a difficult time remembering names, which I attribute to not paying close enough attention. But I am determined to give my gray matter a good workout every day. Thanks for writing!
I am right handed my friend but heard it helps to try using your other hand from time to time. I would love to win and read this book of yours. amish stories are my favorite reading besides the marriage of convenience ones.
thanks for sharing
I would love you to read one of my books, Paula! Thanks so much for entering the contest! Good luck!
I’m right handed. I’d like to enter your drawing! Thank You!
Thanks for visiting my blog and entering the book drawing, Lisa! Good luck!
I am right handed. I have tried writing with my left hand and it doesn’t work out very well.
Thanks for writing, Juanita! I guess I’m strictly right-handed too, but will persevere.
I’m right handed, and didn’t know it was good for the mind to use your non-dominant hand. My mother was left handed for most activities. However, I do remember her ironing and crocheting right handed.
Hi Kathy! I’m impressed that your left-handed mother could crochet and iron with her right hand. I’ve been working on using my left hand all week, but not getting very far. Thanks for writing!