Today, August 13, marks International Left-Handers Day, an annual observance held on August 13 to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of left-handed individuals. The event was first established in 1976 by Dean R. Campbell, the founder of Lefthanders International, Inc.
International Left-Handers Day was created to honor the distinctiveness and improve awareness of the advantages and disadvantages faced by left-handed people, contrasting with the right-handed world.
There are approximately 708 million left-handed people in the world.
This event celebrates the uniqueness and diversity of a distinct group that constitutes 7 to 10 percent of the global population. It also raises public awareness about issues related to left-handedness and serves as an important day for left-handed children, providing an opportunity for left-handers to develop their skills.
Many famous left-handed individuals include: Emperor Napoleon, renowned artists Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, physicist Isaac Newton, billionaire Bill Gates, and U.S. President Barack Obama. Even notorious figures like Jack the Ripper, the Boston Strangler, and terrorist Osama Bin Laden were left-handed.
Left-handed people often possess many talents and are particularly intelligent. Twenty percent of MENSA members—a high IQ society present in over 100 countries—are left-handed.
There are also many interesting facts about left-handed individuals, such as:
- Left-handed men outnumber left-handed women by two to one.
- If two left-handed people marry, their child has a 50% chance of being left-handed.
- Right-handed individuals tend to chew food on the left side, while left-handed individuals tend to chew on the right.
When playing video games or sports, left-handed individuals process information faster than their right-handed counterparts.
