CHALLENGE #4: I Am Blessed With Two Hands

I see with two eyes. I listen with two ears. I walk with both legs. I write with only one hand.

To me, this unbalance indicates that there is a part of my brain that could be exercised more. I am going to learn to become more multi-handed, with an ultimate goal to become ambidextrous. My right hand is dominant to my left hand. This challenge will require me to increase my left hand usage.

A quick Google on the subject listed some very famous people who were thought to be ambidextrous or extremely multi-handed. Michelangelo created his genius inventions and art with both hands. Leonardo Da Vinci created his masterpieces' with two mitts. Ludwig Van Beethoven predictably played the piano with both hands. Hippocrates, Plato and Einstein were all reported to exercise both brain hemispheres by the use of their upper limbs. If you research ambidextrous athletes, many more known names are listed too.

I learned that only one percent of the world's population are naturally ambidextrous. This small percentage of people were born with both hands equally dominant. However, it is possible to learn ambidexterity even if you were not born with the gift.

Yes, in my opinion, I feel that being ambidextrous is a gift. It is an unique skill that I would like to gain. I believe it can be very beneficial.

Some benefits I found were:

• increased athletic ability
• an easier ability to recall the content of an event
• improved left brain and right brain integration
• tasks can be done more efficiently
• a reduced risk of carpal tunnel syndrome
• an increased ability to read other people
• a better ability to see both sides of a situation

Not all scientists believe ambidexterity is a benefit. Some studies indicate that dyslexia and language difficulties are more common among the naturally ambidextrous population. Other studies even show difficulty conceiving and increased cancers in people who use both hands regularly.

I take ALL the studies with a grain of salt. I do not know the details of those studies, like: whether there was an adequate control group, or how long the people were studied, or if there were multiple or singular studies conducted. I do not take ANYTHING from Google as fact. To me, it is all theory, and anyone can put information on the Internet, whether they have credentials and proven knowledge..... or not.

I personally would like to become ambidextrous because it intrigues me. I know humans do not use the full potential of their brain. I feel it is obvious here to state: if I begin using my left hand nearly as much as my right hand, new pathways and connections in my brain will be created. I can not see a true disadvantage to using more of my brain. I hope it will help me to become more evolved and maybe bestow some of the benefits I listed (and others I do not know about).

I mentioned some very admirable creators, philosophers and artists as being reportedly ambidextrous. All of them were highly intelligent and talented. Is it conceivable that their ambidexterity was an aid in their genius? Can I potentially increase my intelligence by learning to become multi-handed? Hey, I might as well try. If anything, it will be a fun challenge.

The rules of this challenge are as follows:

1. I will write at least one paragraph per day in my journal using my left hand.
2. I will be aware of daily tasks (ex: brushing my teeth) and attempt to use my left hand for everything I normally do with my right hand (exception: work paperwork..... I don't think my boss would be impressed if my reports looked like they were written by a first grader).
3. I will blog about this experience once per week.
4. As a start, I will maintain this challenge for one month (until January 5th, 2011). After one month I will re-evaluate whether I would like to go further with this challenge.