Living the Lefty Life: Smudges, Scissors, and Secret Skills

Can you crack the left-handed riddle?

Did you know that only about 10% of the world’s population is left-handed? That is what the statistics say, but I seem to know a lot of lefties. Maybe we naturally gravitate toward each other.

Life as a left-hander is an adventure—especially when you grow up in a time and place where being left-handed is considered... well, a problem.

I was raised in Czechoslovakia, where left-handedness was strongly discouraged at both school and home. Unbelievable, right? My teachers forced me to write with my right hand, which felt as unnatural as trying to eat soup with a fork. But they were persistent, and eventually, I became a functional right-handed writer. But I still consider myself a full left-hander. I have to do everything with my left hand—it’s just how I’m wired!

Here is the twist: despite my ‘training,’ my left hand still makes its presence known in peculiar ways. For instance, I always hold scissors “wrong.” If you have ever seen me cut something, you might think I am inventing a new form of abstract art. But it just feels right to me (even if it is technically wrong). My husband always comments on how I hold the scissors, but it really makes no difference to me.

Then there is my straight-line dilemma. I can’t, for the life of me, draw a straight horizontal line with my left hand. It wobbles, wavers, and takes on a mind of its own. The only solution? I switch to my right hand and pretend I planned it that way all along.

But my real party trick is mirror writing. If you hand me a pen and ask me to write something with my left hand, it comes out perfectly mirrored, just like Leonardo da Vinci's work. Why do I have this bizarre skill? I have no idea, but it does come in handy for leaving mysterious, cryptic messages. I even left one for you to solve, so let me know how that goes. And if all else fails, just grab a mirror to read it again.

Life as a left-hander is full of surprises, but I wouldn’t want to change it. After all, some of the most creative minds in history were left-handed—Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Jimi Hendrix, Albert Einstein, and even Barack Obama. Not bad company to keep!

So, if you are a fellow leftie, raise a glass to the wonderfully unique world of left-handed life!

In the Land of Dreams - Stories I wrote, Paintings I sketched

Dreaming

Some of you may have noticed that I love Haruki Murakami's quote: "I dream. Sometimes I think that it is the only right thing to do." This quote resonates with me because it highlights the importance of dreaming.

My fascination with dreams began in my childhood, and as a teenager, I started recording them. Initially, it was just a quirky habit, but over time it evolved into something much more meaningful. Dreams have always captivated me, allowing me to live a vivid and imaginative life filled with stories, colorful landscapes, and intriguing encounters. Interestingly, when I read my old dream journals ( and I have many!) I often don’t remember dreaming of those things. It feels like I am reading a novel that I wrote myself without even realizing it.

Dreams hold incredible power. They can reveal hidden emotions, spark creativity, or simply offer an escape to explore new worlds. I have noticed that when I try to jot down my dreams each morning, they become more vivid, and I remember them better. It is almost like writing them down helps train my mind to hang onto those dream memories a little longer. Who knew that remembering dreams could be a skill we can nurture? Is this even possible?

My dreams continuously inspire my paintings. The colors, textures, and surreal moments that unfold while I sleep often find their way into my art. They feel like whispers from my subconscious, gently guiding my creative process.

I have one recurring dream that involves discovering buried treasure on a small moss-covered mound in the middle of a forest. Perhaps this explains my lifelong love of collecting treasures—sea glass, broken pottery, bird feathers, buttons, and any other discarded item that strikes me as beautiful. There is a special joy in finding beauty in the unexpected.

For me, dreams are more than just fleeting moments of the night; they are an endless source of wonder. If you haven’t tried recording your dreams, I encourage you to give it a try. You might be surprised by what your subconscious has to say! Who knows? You might uncover treasures of your own, hidden in the moss-covered mounds of your imagination.

I would love to know.

• Do you record your dreams?

• Have you ever experienced recurring dreams?

• If you keep a dream journal, how do you feel when you look back on it?

When you have some time, please let me know.

Wildflowers, Washi and Whimsy - My 2024 Reflections

As we enter the new year and begin dreaming about the future, I feel that it is important to pause for a moment. Before we dive headfirst into all that planning, I enjoy reflecting on the past year.

So, here are some of my memorable moments from 2024:

• Writing Monthly Newsletters and Blogs: Who knew that pouring my thoughts onto a page could connect me with so many people?

• Setting Up Instagram and Regularly Posting: Starting my Instagram was a big step into the unknown. I could not have done it without the younger generation's support! But sharing my creations and seeing so many inspirations from other artists is fun.

• Teaching Art Classes: Guiding others through the joyful chaos of watercolors, upcycling old books, and experimenting with collages and acrylics was both rewarding and lots of fun. Just the right amount of messiness!

• Opening my Art Studio at SALA: Welcoming friends into my creative space was a bit scary but also exciting. I loved the opportunity to share my private creative cave with all of you.

• Exhibiting at the Glenside Lions Art Show: Seeing my work on display in such a big exhibition felt very special —a significant milestone that inspired me to continue experimenting with my art.

• Creating Whimsical Art Pieces: I took my art on a wild ride! From jazzing up red-tailed black cockatoos with washi tape to painting sunlit savannah landscapes with leopards and zebras, experimenting with surrealism brought me so much joy!

• Dabbling in New Mediums: I explored painting on vintage book pages, experimented with gold leaf, and learned to use pastels. This challenged my creativity and patience while teaching me to let go of my perfectionism.

• Strengthening Friendships: Supporting my girlfriend through her recovery was a reminder of how powerful friendship can be. Who knew art and teamwork could make the perfect recipe for healing?

While it is important to celebrate successes, I believe that we need to also look at our “not-so-good” moments.

So, here it is, my examples of “what I could have done better”:

• Prioritizing Health: Last year reminded me that self-care isn’t just a buzzword, it is a must. After wrestling with some health issues, I am determined to be more careful and recognize my limits in 2025.

• Being Kinder to the Planet: I am always on the lookout for reducing waste and reusing materials in my art, but there is more to do. Perhaps 2025 could be my year of "zero-waste creativity."

• Monitoring Social Media Time: Building my Instagram presence feels rewarding, but let’s face it, scrolling through the millions of posts can eat away at the creative time faster than you can realize. I am on a mission to find a balance between engagement and actually creating art.

• Staying Present: It is so easy to get caught up in the everyday routines, but I want to savor life’s little moments more—even if it is just pausing to enjoy a really good cup of tea or watching the grass grow.

Taking a moment to reflect is like hugging your soul. It helps gain perspective and make future planning more meaningful! So, as you gear up for the new year, don’t forget to wink at the past, smile at the present, and get excited for the future!

Happy reflecting, planning, and all the best for the New Year!