I’ve always been a left-hander. Growing up, I often heard comments, saw curious glances, and faced little challenges that most people never think about. The world is built for right-handed people — from the faucet near the toilet seat to the way doors open, the design of scissors, and even the layout of desks. And while these might seem like small things, when you face them every day, you learn to adapt.
But here’s the thing — being left-handed is not a problem to be fixed; it’s simply another way of holding the world. Sadly, in some places, even eating with the left hand is seen as shameful. That needs to change. We shouldn’t be made to feel wrong for something that’s natural to us.
When I was younger, my mother used to worry about how I’d manage. But she quickly became my biggest cheerleader. She taught me to face the stares at parties, to be confident in my own skin. I’ll never forget the day my family moved the faucet to the left side of the toilet seat — just for me. It was such a small change, but it made me feel seen, accepted, and understood.
That’s what I wish for every left-hander — to feel accepted, to feel confident, and to be encouraged instead of corrected. Parents have such a big role in this. When they motivate their children, they send a powerful message: “Your abilities matter more than the hand you use.” Without that support, children often learn to hide their identity instead of embracing it.
Only about 10% of the world is left-handed. Some might have been forced to change, but for those of us who remain, we wear it as a badge of pride. “Left-handed, right-hearted — we’re made to stand out.”
And that’s why every year on August 13, we celebrate International Left-Handers Day — a day to raise awareness, to challenge stereotypes, and to say proudly, it’s okay to be different.
So today, and every day, I hope you’ll join me in making the world a little more inclusive — one small change, one kind word, one understanding gesture at a time. After all, the hand you use doesn’t define you — your heart does.
