[Minstrel]

David, I have a suggestion and a warning. I don't have time to be anything but blunt.

Suggestion: Check the dominance of your ear, eye, and foot.

Hold your watch up to your ear to see if it's ticking. Which ear?
Eavesdrop through a keyhole or a wall. Which ear?
It might be most effective to have someone else observe you on issues like this, when you are unaware of it.

With which eye would you sight a weapon? Look through a kaleidescope? Microscope? Try this: point across the room at an object, such as a light switch. Now close your left eye. Is your finger still pointing to it or did it jump? Close the other eye? Did it jump? The eye that causes your finger to jump when you close it is your dominant eye.

With which foot would you kick a ball? Try standing on one foot. Which is easier. Try hopping. Write your name with your toes and observe which foot is faster and neater.

Warning: Again, I have no time to be anything but blunt. If you are right handed, eyed, eared, and footed, please DO NOT switch your handedness. You are messing around with basic brain development.

Yes, it is entirely possible to switch handedness, aka dominance. But it should not be done lightly for two reasons. First, you do have a genetically prefered side. Second, for proper brain function, the eye, ear, hand and foot should all be dominant on the same side. If they are mixed, then you are likely to have emotional instability and/or learning difficulties.

For more information on this, please find and read the book "A New Start for the Child with Reading Problems" by Carl Delacato. Or any other of his books, but this one is the simplist, written for parents, and omitting the scientific studies. I can't remember right now the name of the book with the studies.

If you choose to proceed with this trial, be on the look out for deteriorating function.

Then again, it is entirely possible that you are genetically left (have any lefties in your family?) lean in that direction already (do a lot of things ambidexteriously?) and have left eye, ear, and foot preference. In that case you are doing yourself a wonderful favor by switching your hand!

Minstrel