A simple trick to quickly tell the difference between left and right.

[LuckyCharms]

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this, but even at my advanced age, I still sometimes have to think for just a small fraction of a second to determine which way is left vs. right.

For example, if a doctor is examining me and says something like "turn your head to the right", it might take me 1/100th of a second to figure out which way to turn it.

There is an easy trick to prevent this brief time lag.

Just remember that the hand where the thumb is on the right side, is the left hand, and the hand where the thumb is on the left side, is the right hand.

[Rhiannon12866]

1. I have always had an issue telling left and right

When I was a kid and we had to do marching in gym class, my mother printed L and R on my sneakers so all I had to do was look down and wouldn't get in trouble. The issue flared up again when I took driver's ed...

[Xipe Totec]

2. I'm ambilevous - awkward with both hands. nt

[rusty quoin]

3. Left face. Your other left dumb ass.

[kairos12]

13. Ah yes. The days of Basic!!

[handmade34]

4. don't get me confused

when out driving if I am the navigator, I just point... it saves discussion, annoyance, accidents and relationships

[Glamrock]

5. Me too brother Luck.

I wouldn't worry as long as you got up/down figured out.

[rickford66]

6. It's easier to convert to port and starboard first

Don't get me started on fore and aft

[left-of-center2012]

7. " the hand where the thumb is on the right side ..."

Got any tips on how to remember that?

[lastlib]

12. yeah, it'd take me TEN seconds to figure THAT out!

...and it doesn't work if you look at the PALM of your hand!

[cyclonefence]

8. Your tip confuses me

but if you hold your hands up, palms down, with thumbs extended, the left-hand thumb looks like an L.

Now can you show me the way to go home? It's late, and I want to go to bed.

[Tikki]

9. I lift my right hand and do a quick scribble...my brain tells me that is the right side.

I am right-handed.

Tikki

[LakeSuperiorView]

11. The index finger and thumb that makes an L is the left hand...

Left and Port have four letters, Port wine is red.

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. Like you, I have to think for a sec.

I write left handed. but am right handed for most other things.

I do tend to "think" in terms of left hand, so have heard "No, your OTHER left" a lot.