Studies show that about 10% of the worlds population is left handed and it is believed that this percentage is relatively constant right back to the stone age based on the study of cave paintings from that period – determining how many are painted by left handed cave men, estimating the population and extrapolating the percentage.

Examination of handedness through time is of course not an exact science with a lot of estimation involved including analysis of ancient artifacts so it is not possible to prove this statement through the ages but statistical science is relatively mature today and 10% is a fair number.

One of my daughters is left handed, as am I, and many years ago she wrote an amusing essay about her handicap – being left-handed.

She had a point.  Given the majority of the population typical uses their right hand predominantly, most simple tools are designed for that orientation –   things like scissors, computer mice, baseball gloves, guitars, even most doors.    Left handed persons are often at a disadvantage.

Studies have shown for example that lefties are more likely to have a fatal car accident in North America because while driving when alarmed by something (typically causing an adrenaline surge the tendency is to pull down on the steering wheel with your dominant hand.  If you are left handed this brings you into the oncoming traffic lane.  Bang, head on collision – more likely to be fatal.

That being said, scientists have also gathered evidence linking left-handedness and intellectual creativity.  Their studies show true left handed persons tend to be more intelligent and eloquent than right handed persons.  Unfortunately most of these studies were conducted by left handed scientists.

And to the point of this post!

I read a fabulous quote the other day that put handedness in perspective for me, and I share it here.  This probably says it all.

“If the left side of the brain controls the right side of your body, and the right side of your brain controls the left side of your body, then left-handed people must be the only ones in their right minds. ”   –  W.C. Fields.