August 13 International Left-Handers Day

by Mick the Ram

Unless the 13th August is your birthday or an anniversary of some sort, the chances are for around 90% of the world’s population it is just another day, but for a special 10% it represents the one day of the year when they can celebrate their own uniqueness.

That is because this is International Left-Handers Day, a day set aside to mark all those who have to adapt in the way they use most everyday items and products, to simply get by.

On this day it is a time for every left handed person around the globe to come together in solidarity and highlight to family, friends, and colleagues who are dominant in the use of their right hand, the countless challenges faced every single day.

The day was first celebrated all the way back in 1976, but it is only in the past decade that it has really caught the imagination. It is a great chance to raise awareness regarding the difficulties that left-handers have to contend with in a world that has predominantly been created to suit the right-hander.

So many products are designed for a right-hander meaning that “lefties” have to literally use them in a way that is opposite to how they are meant to be used. Not only is this awkward and frustrating, but also in some cases very dangerous.

A gentleman by the name of Dean R Campbell was responsible for getting the recognition off the ground and in 1990 he created the Left-Handers Club, which has steadily grown over the years. One of its main aims was to put pressure on manufacturers of appliances, devices, basically any item imaginable, and make them realise the necessity to understand the requirements of a left hander.

Thankfully, the message gradually got through and now there are many everyday items available that a designed specifically for the left-hander. Things like scissors, spiral notebooks, tape-measures, playing cards, and several kitchen utensils such as serrated knives, can-openers and most left-handers nemesis… the peeler, have all been manufactured to be used by a left hander.

To be fair, most right-handers are simply unaware of the challenges that left-handers face, so this  day is the one time many “lefties” take the opportunity to get their own back on right-handed friends. “Lefties” suggest they “live in their shoes” for a day and try using their left-handed products with their right hand and very quickly the appreciation levels sky-rocket.

Far from being clumsy, weak, or even sinister, as has been suggested over the years, left-handers are actually quite brilliant at adapting and fully deserving of a day of their own to celebrate the fact.