Left-Handed or Right-Handed-Make Up Your Mind!

Now I know most of you out there are probably right-handed, but I happen to be one of the 11% that is left-handed. I will say it's hard being a lefty in a righty world. I am not one of those lefties that curls my whole wrist to write...I actually write pretty straight. However, it's still hard to right in a notebook such as a 3-ring binder because your hand hits the rings or the fact that your hand smears your ink or pencil markings because your hand is behind your writing. Or the fact that you need left-handed scissors and of course most scissors are made for righties so you learn to use your other hand because it's too much of a hassle to find left-handed scissors when you need them. My dad always called me a lefty when I was younger so that became the joke that if I couldn't do something well it was because of my left-handed handicap. I do blame my lack of ability to spread jam or butter or anything for that matter with a knife on my left-handiness. Now when I was in 3rd grade my brother, my dad, and I were throwing a baseball. I had already played t-ball for a year and had played left-handed. I guess I had borrowed my brother's right-handed glove and started throwing with my right-hand. My dad was like I think you throw better with your right, so from there on I threw with my right-hand. I played basketball, volleyball, softball, and even bowled with my right-hand. However, when it came to swinging a bat, I had to swing as a lefty because it felt too weird and unnatural from the right side. Then as I got older and was starting to learn to play golf, I had to do the same thing and swing from my left-side. For the most part besides swinging, I played sports right-handed but I eat, write, cut, and do most other tasks left-handed.

At this point, you are probably wondering where I am going with this story. Well last night the hubs and I had our date night while my mother-in-law watched the baby. We decided it was too nice outside to do something indoors, so we decided to play tennis since he had bought me a new racket for Christmas. I kind of sort of learned to play back in college when both of us took a course as an elective. However, he was in the advanced because he actually played varsity tennis in high school. Needless to say, I'm not great but I can hit the ball...sometimes. I always felt so awkward with my forehand swing, but very natural with my backhand swing. So after a night of struggling with this awkward feeling forehand my husband said I don't know why it feels so weird...especially from you playing volleyball and serving with your left-hand. I said wait a minute...I serve and play volleyball right-handed! He said well you should play your tennis forehand swing with your strong side...which is my throwing arm-my right arm! A volleyball serve is very similar to a tennis serve, and this whole time I have been doing the opposite. I couldn't believe this epiphany! My husband said there was no way he could do a forehand from his weak side, and this whole time that is what I was doing because I was comparing a tennis swing to my batting swing when I should be comparing it more to how I play volleyball.

Stay tuned for next week to see if my forehand actually improves when we go play again. With my luck, I have probably just made this all up and won't even be able to do it with my right-hand! However it sure sounds like a good excuse for my weaknesses on the court for now!

I wonder what hand this little guy will favor? :)