Using the other hand

Yesterday, I had this strange thought as I was simultaneously making banana pudding with bananas and milk closely reaching their expiration date and eating oatmeal with peanut butter, bananas, and blueberries. I noticed I was eating oatmeal with my right hand and stirring the pudding with my left. Rarely do I ever eat with my right hand! I'm a pretty true lefty when it comes to eating and most other things. However, at one point, I was not a lefty but rather a righty. Somewhere during the time after my first hand surgery at 5 years of age or so, my brain amazingly switched to learn to be left-handed. Ever since, I've always considered myself pretty much a lefty, though some stuff I had to be taught to be left, like with some gymnastics skills in my youth.

Going back to my thought. I was thinking how when I realized I was using my right hand to simply eat oatmeal, how I had to really concentrate on this--grabbing the spoon, holding it with my fingers, scooping the oatmeal, bringing it to my mouth in a less than haphazard manner to risk from dropping food down my shirt or onto the kitchen counter. This took a lot of effort!

Why, because this was out of the ordinary. It felt different, almost uncomfortable actually, but at the same time, it forced me to think of how to do something differently to make it work. Often times, as humans, we turn into creatures of habit. We all do this to some extent or another. On a brief side note here, it's one reason why dogs who have owners with strict schedules love us! They learn that at X time, they will be fed, at X time, they may play ball, etc. So when we mess with their routines, they give us these funny looks--that quirked head to the side, that confused look, or a look of exasperation "what the hell are you doing/thinking?"

It's the same with humans when our routines and habits change. Some of us deal with adaptability well, while others falter to the nth degree, and of course there are others in the in-between. But adaptability or just trying something different both allows and forces us to use more brain cells. Things are no longer on autopilot, they take a lot of effort and thought-ability (I don't think that is even a word but makes sense in this case). It really is part of what recovery is about, i.e. after appropriate weight restoration and in a "healthier" state.

I know most of us already know this at least in a logical sense, but putting it to use is hard. I think if we continue to challenge ourselves in healthy ways, we not only discover more of our capabilities but also think out of the box too.

I'm thinking maybe this week to try my right hand at more tasks--simple things of course, like eating, putting on clothes, brushing my teeth, those sorts of things. Some may ask why? I don't know, just to give myself reminders that I can feel uncomfortable, sit with it, and maybe even adapt. Anyone else up for the challenge?

Note: I realize this is probably all really cheesy, but just putting it out there anyway.