Left-handed or Right?

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I am left handed for most things that I do. Just recently I began doing common everyday tasks using my right hand – and was amazed at how difficult some things were.

Tonight when I made myself a bowl of Cheerios I carried the bowl into the living room with my right hand. Of course – I usually use my left. This is really not a huge feat but felt very weird. Why am I doing things with the opposite hand? The reason is simple: Some day I may have no choice but to utilize the opposite hand to perform certain tasks.

Why be forced to use your other hand? Well – the most likely cause would be some sort of injury. Whether it be a break, sprain, severe laceration, or some other significant injury – having to perform a variety of tasks with the opposite hand could prove very frustrating.

Ever tried zippping up your pants with the opposite hand?

Ever brushed your teeth with the opposite hand?

Have you ever tried to shoot a pistol with your opposite hand?

Ever hammered in a nail with the opposite hand?

These are just a few examples of tasks that you may find rather difficult to accomplish when you use the non-traditional hand. For me one I do something a half-dozen times or so I usually will begin to get the hang of it. Other tasks come quite easy (hammering nails, pistol shooting, using a fork and spoon to eat, and punching).

One particular skill that I am really struggling with is shooting a long gun right-handed. Very difficult. I am left-eye dominant and aiming with my right eye is proving difficult at best.

Skills are one thing that I need to improve in the most when it comes to my Preparedness System. Being able to use either hand for most tasks is one that is easy to work on and costs nothing.

Give it a shot.

Rourke

Tags: survival planning, survival skills

skills, Survival & Preparedness | Rourke December 23, 2010

7 Comments to “Left-handed or Right?”

By Ollamha Anne, December 23, 2010 @ 10:01 am

That is a very good idea. When I was in grade 4, I broke the thumb on my right hand, and so I had to learn to do a lot of things with my left hand. To this day, because it took so long for my thumb to heal completely, I do a lot of things with my left hand still.

I recall reading stories about Americans trying to pass for Europeans during WWII and being caught because they cut their meat with the wrong hand. Quick question, which hand do you use to cut meat with? Most people I know switch the fork to the left hand and use the knife in the right hand to cut meat with. But elsewhere, people use their left hand to handle the knife at the dinner table. I read somewhere that this habit developed because the majority of people are right-handed, and when sitting down to a big diplomatic dinner, using your left hand to cut your meat with (which puts you at a disadvantage in a fight) demonstrated your peaceful intentions.

Keep up the efforts to become proficient with your other hand. Eventually, the feeling of weirdness will disappear. As a suggestion, you may want to do strengthening and dexterity exercises similar to those that piano teachers get their students to do. When you are playing the piano, both hands needs to be strong and dexterous, and they allow you to develop control over each finger as an individual. Put all fingers and thumbs tip down on the table and try to lift the ring finger by itself, and you’ll see what I mean. Check out the video at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBJrTsNZVaw

During the time my right thumb was broken, my piano teacher had me doing piano pieces for the left hand only, and to this day, when testing hand strength, my left hand is just as strong as my right hand.
By glenn, December 23, 2010 @ 10:28 am

I’M Very lucky I’m a lefty but I do so much from my right side. SHOOT,BOWL, KICK A BALL WITH MY left hand. But when it comes to working with tools I have trouble. You bring up some good points.
By Jason, December 23, 2010 @ 10:40 am

Great reminder, Our carbine and IDPA club is having us do more drills with opposite shoulder/hand and when I think about it, I try to do tasks with the weak hand. It really hit home with me after separating my strong side shoulder years ago and felt useless.
Thanks for the reminder.
By Leah, December 23, 2010 @ 12:30 pm

I’d add writing and using scissors to your list. As kids we’d always write with both hands, then we’d write backwards, then upside down. While those may not be necessary, it helps the brain to test it like this. Since we are planning on target shooting this afternoon, I’m going to do mine left handed.
By BePrepared, December 23, 2010 @ 11:12 pm

I was born left eye dominant. Being a right handed child, learning to shoot my .22 at 6 yrs old was a trip. My father told me me to close my left eye (dominant) and shoot with my right. Well I got pretty good at it over the years, enough to to get a few rifle expert awards from the Marines.

When I got my own pistol, I was amazed to see I was pretty damn good no matter what hand/eye side I used. Of course I’m better with my right (and shooting with that eye) but with a 1911 the left is deadly, on the G21 my left hand shakes a bit.

Eye dominance can be overcome (ask any Apache pilot) but the hand useage is the killer.
By Rourke, December 24, 2010 @ 9:26 am

BePrepared –

Good story – I am a lefty but have naturally shot a pistol right-handed while being left-eye dominant. Has not been a big deal. I have found it prety easy to shoot left handed. The shotting part is easy – its working the controls that feel alien (for now).

Thanks – Rourke
By Apartment Prepper, December 26, 2010 @ 9:13 pm

I am right handed, the only thing I ever tried was writing with my left hand, which takes getting used to. I’d have to try this out for a day to find out how I’d do. Thanks for the idea!