Some things I learned in the military have really stuck with me. Others dropped off easily, and some resurface occasionally just to mess things up.
The one that has stuck with me is using my left hand though I’m right-handed. Right and left turns up a lot in the military. During training of marching, we would have to hold up our left hand so when the drill sergeant called for us to turn left, everyone actually turned left.
Sometimes someone would get it scrambled (me), and the drill sergeant would yell, “Your other left, private!”
Then there’s the salute. It’s done with the right hand. That means if you’re out walking about with a bag in your hand, it has to be in your left hand. Your right hand needs to be available if there’s officer so you can salute.
So in civilian life, I use both hands interchangeably. I’ll take garbage in my left hand outside. Sometimes I shift it to the right, but I find that my left is a little stronger.
Anyway, one day I was loading paper into the copier with my left hand and felt this little twinge. Didn’t think anything of it until later that evening…suddenly it REALLY hurt.
Every. time. I. moved.
Off to the doctor who told me I had golfer’s elbow (should be copier’s elbow, since no golfing was involved). I was making an effort not to move the arm too much because it was so painful. But I couldn’t not to.
Doctor asked me if I was left-handed.
I didn’t realize how much the military had changed this until then.:)
Linda Maye Adams 