Monday, April 19, 2010

becoming ambidextrous


Drawing Hands by M. C. Escher

When I would go on my river trips, Marc would always send me off with the admonition not to injure my hands, specifically my right hand. I am right handed but I can, to some degree, use my left hand competently especially when working on the pate de verre or when I crochet or even the few times I play around with flame working like making beads. Even so, the left hand is still more of a helper hand so I've been trying to become more ambidextrous lately.

I wanted to expand on the small skill set of my left hand, at first spurred on by getting arthritis in my right thumb joint but then I developed it in my left thumb joint as well. Still it seemed like an admirable thing to do, to become more balanced, so I moved my computer mouse to my left hand and I was surprised at how quickly I adapted. Next I tried pouring from a jar or pitcher and that went well and drinking my coffee with my left hand. Really the hardest part was remembering to use my left hand for what ever task. When I dig or rake, I will shift dominant sides every so often. I haven't graduated to trying to write with my left hand though or draw. Some things are best left be. It took me 20 years to learn to draw with my right hand.

So my next skill to cultivate is using a pair of scissors left handed. This is much harder than it seems. I'm using a pair of either/or kitchen scissors and not being very successful. Of course, I'm trying to cut a thin plastic drop cloth, not the easiest thing even with my right hand. I never really thought about what goes into using a pair of scissors so who knew there are many things to consider...angle side to side, angle up and down. Also how you place yourself and how you use your other hand to hold the thing. I had to watch my right hand cutting before I could even get close with my left. I was better with stiff brown paper on a roll but far from smooth.

Dominance is much more than which hand you use or which eye or ear you prefer. It's also about how you orient yourself to things. Which side you stand on, which way you face, how you hold things. The cutting with scissors entails more spatial awareness than simply moving a mouse around or pouring out of a pitcher.

I think I'll practice the small stuff a little more, however, before tackling a hammer.


15 comments:

  1. That's funny, my post was about balance, too. Though of a completely different nature. I try to use my left hand more lately, too. I can do a good bit, but writing isn't easy with either hand lately. I do paint with both hands and have the same skill set there. Scissors are a lot harder with the left hand.......

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  2. I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!

    I can't take credit for that. My brother came up with it.

    As a lefty, I'm two handed. I've never had a problem doing things with my right hand/arm/eye/leg/foot, etc. I can write right-handed passably well, and draw right handed even better.

    I do know there are lefties who are strongly left-handed, just as there are righties who cant' do a thing with their left hand. I ain't one of those. Comes in handy when you have to live in a righthanded world. Of course, the universe (the physical laws) is left-handed, which makes this world of right-handers a perverted abomination.

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  3. My Shelley is mostly a south paw but because she has had to "fit" into a right handed world, she is really ambidexrous. I envy her being able to do things equally well with either hand. Good for you if you are able to accomplish this fete. I am so right handed that I can't even imagine. I had carpel tunnel surgery a million years ago. First on the right and then 8 years later the left. I was like a fish out of water with the right hand. The left, the only thing I had trouble with was putting my hair up. Now I am faced with surgery for an invasive cyst in my right wrist, so I will be in a do or die situation during the recovery, which I have been told is only a matter of a couple of weeks. No typing, I'll tell ya that much. (((hugs))) until next time.

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  4. Really a great exercise for balancing the two hemispheres of your brain!

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  5. somebody once discouraged me from using both hands to draw or write...because, they said, it would compromise the quality of the dominant hand's work. Don't know if that is true but not willing to risk it- I can not afford compromise!

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  6. Wise approach. I wouldn't trust myself with a hammer. Also, my left arm/hand/leg/foot are all infuriatingly clumsy.

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  7. You are a brave soul, Ellen. Fancy trying to be ambidextrous and by the sounds of it succeeding.

    I'm not sure I'd dare. I'd feel to clumsy and would resent the sloppy beginnings. Good for you.

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  8. You've inspired me to try to do the same. I never realized how useless my left hand is with fine motor skills. I may never be able to write legibly with my left had or do fine work, but now I must try.

    Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes.

    And high fives to John Kurman. Funny comment.

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  9. I am like a handicapped person when I try to do anything with my left hand. I am, however, left eared and right eyed. I can only talk on the phone with my left ear. And when looking through a camera viewfinder, I can only use my right eye. My vision and hearing are perfectly fine in both, it just seems so weird to use the wrong one.

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  10. Playing golf, squash, writing, cutting vegetables...I can't imagine going to my left hand. Your post encourages one to think about the possibilities when circumstances encourage a change.

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  11. This is so cool! I've been reading about the brain lately, so I know that by using your left hand you are developing new brain maps, and strengthening the connections between left and right hemisphere. It will help you in every way possible. Hmmm ... I think I'll give it a try.

    The lefties I know say that with scissors you HAVE to use left-handed scissors. It makes a big difference - they say.

    You're so cool, Ellen.

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  12. I have sometimes fooled around with doing this, too. It is surprising how quickly one adjusts to a lot of it. other things remain a mystery. I never have been able to write left handed, but i can throw a ball. Weird.

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  13. When I had surgery on my right shoulder I learned to use my left hand reasonably well. The hardest things for me were: eating soup (I kept tilting the spoon), brushing my teeth (stabbed my gums) & one other TMI item involving another bathroom activity (kept stabbing myself with my fingernails). Fortunately I didn't have to try to write since my hand was fine.

    I have to say, that I still do some things the same way I did them right after the surgery - I got used to it & just never changed back once I got the use of that arm again.

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  14. ellen i love to play that game. i tried it with a triple zero watercolour brush and found that brushing my teeth with my lefthand is a whole lot easier. no need for precision. cool posting. steven

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  15. What an interesting exercise. I've tried using the mouse on the left before.. no go. I can pour easily enough.. at least I'm no sloppier than when pouring with my right hand. When you get to the point when you're using that hammer, you'd best still watch out for your right hand. ;)

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