Left-handed 30-Day Trial

[David Hausladen]

Left Handed, Day 3

Scanned update posted on Flickr

[WanderingOak]

The Wikipedia article you referenced was interesting. I have heard that the main reason why DaVinci wrote backwards is because he was left-handed and would smudge the ink if he wrote with the normal orientation. After you comented on writing in English being biased towards right-handedness, I wondered if writing in Arabic or Hebrew would be easier for Southpaws. However, I believe there are many superstitions about left-handedness in that part of the world, although the article didn't mention any.

[Scott Bird]

David, as far as tracking improvements in handwriting goes, the first thing I'd suggest is to use the same text each day. It'll make it much easier for any sort of comparison. This text would probably be something that includes all letters, and 'the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' is the line that springs to mind. No doubt there are others that do this.

A sample of the same text written with your right hand would also be useful as a control. At least then you have a known target each day.

The changes themselves - I'm not quite sure what'd be most useful. I'm interested to hear any ideas from others. Letter size and slope perhaps?

[Erki]

Originally Posted by Scott Bird

A sample of the same text written with your right hand would also be useful as a control. At least then you have a known target each day.

Maybe, but not necessarily, IMO. I would let the handwriting of the left hand evolve on its own, only just making sure it won't get too messy.

[David Hausladen]

Left-Handed, Day 4

Scanned update posted on Flickr

[Michael Chui]

Originally Posted by Minstrel

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.

I've noticed this with my eyes, but the eye doctor also says I have a lazy right eye. There are most likely confounding factors.

[Scott Bird]

Originally Posted by David Hausladen

Left-Handed, Day 4

Scanned update posted on Flickr

I think it's gradually getting better, but it'll be easier to tell after a week or two. Does it feel any easier now to write left-handed?

I'm also wondering about eating, using cutlery that is. I've seen left-handers holding the fork in their left hand, knife in their right and vice versa. Which way have you been doing it? Or have you been relying on chopsticks?

[ReallyGoodIdeas]

I had a right arm injury years ago and was forced to use my left hand for writing. I was SO frustrated I couldn't stand it, but it was a lesson of sorts to me - I learnt that I'm very right handed!
Joy
Hazel

[David Hausladen]

Originally Posted by Scott Bird

I think it's gradually getting better, but it'll be easier to tell after a week or two. Does it feel any easier now to write left-handed?

I am getting faster at left-handed writing, and it's become more natural (hence yesterday's was the longest update yet, at a full page). I think today I'll actually put it some practice at the left-handed writing, which will almost certainly result in considerable improvement.

I'm also wondering about eating, using cutlery that is. I've seen left-handers holding the fork in their left hand, knife in their right and vice versa. Which way have you been doing it? Or have you been relying on chopsticks?

Come to think of it, I can think of only one knife-and-fork meal during the past four days, and I forgot to be left-handed at that meal! I have used a spoon left-handed, which was awkward but survivable (I didn't embarrass myself, at any rate).

As mentioned in my last update, I think from here on out I'm going to just focus on the writing, since the other aspects are easy enough that I'm sure I could adapt to them if I needed to (e.g. if my right hand was injured).

Originally Posted by ReallyGoodIdeas

I had a right arm injury years ago and was forced to use my left hand for writing. I was SO frustrated I couldn't stand it, but it was a lesson of sorts to me - I learnt that I'm very right handed!
Joy
Hazel

I would probably find it much more frustrating if I had to handwrite more during the day and/or if this left-handed trial wasn't a voluntary thing.

[Light]

Originally Posted by WanderingOak

The I have heard that the main reason why DaVinci wrote backwards is because he was left-handed and would smudge the ink if he wrote with the normal orientation.

That's something that I find very annoying as a lefty. Everything gets smeared. Spiral notebooks are also quite annoying. You constantly have your hand on the metal spiral.

[David Hausladen]

Left-Handed, Day 5

Scanned update posted on Flickr

[David Hausladen]

Left-Handed, Day 6

Scanned update posted on Flickr

[Alvin]

So what's it been like for you David, particularly in relation to PD?

[Wanderer]

Im sure your getting better at writing left handed, I wonder how long it would take to make a complete transition. Any thoughts?
Keep it up

[kahless]

Originally Posted by Minstrel

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.

I wonder if that's what's wrong with my Dad. He started out left-handed until the adults noticed. He was forced to use his right hand by having his left tied behind his back and other crueler methods. Keep in mind that my dad is in his late 80's. Back when he was a child, using the left hand was the "mark of the devil" and an evil thing.

Once he came to America, he started writing with both hands and still does to this day. There is a marked difference in the way his handwriting looks depending on which hand he used. I have noticed that he always signs his name with his right hand.

===

[David Hausladen]

Originally Posted by Alvin

So what's it been like for you David, particularly in relation to PD?

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Im sure your getting better at writing left handed, I wonder how long it would take to make a complete transition. Any thoughts?
Keep it up

Just wanted to let you know I've been holding off on answering here so I can get some practice handwriting answers to your questions in the update a little later tonight.

I hope the off-topic nature of the last two updates hasn't been too annoying to anyone; I couldn't find anything new to write on Day 5, so I figured a short off-topic discussion was better than none at all until I came up with some more relevant material.

[David Hausladen]

Left-Handed, Day 7

Scanned update posted on Flickr

[JohnnyJimJams]

Gooooooo David Cool topic.

[Phi]

I can't help asking why you are doing this? I agree it could be interesting, but I don't think it will provide you or anybody else any value.

I would go for something more productive/valuecreating instead. For example an attempt to overcome a bad habit, improve a skill, etc.

[WanderingOak]

Originally Posted by Phi

I can't help asking why you are doing this? I agree it could be interesting, but I don't think it will provide you or anybody else any value.

I would go for something more productive/valuecreating instead. For example an attempt to overcome a bad habit, improve a skill, etc.

I believe the theory is that working with the left hand stimulates the right side of the brain. This side of the brain processes information in a visual simultaneous manner, vs linear sequential for the left side of the brain. So, in a way, this does improve a skill.

[CeciL]

I would imagine improvements of some sort as you would be making connections in your brain that were not their before. As well as develop better fine motor skills for your left hand. Probably not a super obvious value but one that compliments your endeavors. All pluses in my book.

People with broken arms do it all the time, so I imagine you won't go screwing up your head as some suggest.

[JohnnyJimJams]

Originally Posted by Phi

I can't help asking why you are doing this? I agree it could be interesting, but I don't think it will provide you or anybody else any value.

I would go for something more productive/valuecreating instead. For example an attempt to overcome a bad habit, improve a skill, etc.

Yeah. Maybe this should be moved to the Fun/Recreation area.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by Light

.... Spiral notebooks are also quite annoying. You constantly have your hand on the metal spiral.

Do you write only on the right-pages of spiral notebooks? Is it because the left pages have no lines? If so, you could use your notebook upside down and write on the left pages only, that would make things easier for you.

[Light]

Originally Posted by aelle

Do you write only on the right-pages of spiral notebooks? Is it because the left pages have no lines? If so, you could use your notebook upside down and write on the left pages only, that would make things easier for you.

Another option is just to use a legal pad or something similar.

[David Hausladen]

Left-Handed, Day 8

Scanned update posted on Flickr

[David Hausladen]

Left-Handed, Day 9

Scanned update posted on Flickr

[David Hausladen]

I know I've been pretty much silent for the past two days. I will resume writing my left-handed trial updates tomorrow--things are going fine, I've just been very busy with an exciting project and have let tracking of my 30-day trials slip a bit.

[Scott Bird]

Originally Posted by David Hausladen

I know I've been pretty much silent for the past two days. I will resume writing my left-handed trial updates tomorrow--things are going fine, I've just been very busy with an exciting project and have let tracking of my 30-day trials slip a bit.

Ah, certainly know that feeling - especially at this time of year. Upcoming holidays always seem to inspire a few things...

[David Hausladen]

Left-Handed Update: Experiment Concluded

I'm going to cancel the remainder of the 30-day trial.

The value of this experiment was that it was fun, interesting, and challenging. I'm fairly certain now I could get to full proficiency with my left hand if I continued working at it--I believe that my updates show a visible improvement from beginning to end, and I know that my speed was gradually improving, even though that doesn't show on paper. Unfortunately, knowing that, much of the fun, interest, and challenge of the experiment is lost, and I don't see too much other intrinsic value to this trial.

I hope that this trial has had value for you all at least in terms of fun and interest, and that you're not too disappointed in its conclusion. I think that if I continued it any longer, I would very quickly run out of interesting material for the updates (I already had, to some extent).

Thanks for watching!