Woman Gets L and R Tattooed On Her Hands After Struggling To Tell Right From Left

Trending November 2, 2023

Everyone has something in their life that they struggle with, even if it seems simple to other people around them. Maybe you're not great at mental math and always use a calculator in restaurants to calculate the tip, or maybe you're really terrible at remembering people's names.

One young woman's issue is something that lots of people can relate to—though maybe not on quite a serious level: distinguishing left from right. To solve that problem, she turned to a little permanent ink.

It's Been A Life Long Struggle For Her

Photo Credit: Instagram / @dkodia

D'Kodia Laine is a 23-year-old woman from Canberra, Australia, who has made a permanent, lifetime commitment to always knowing her left from her right.

Just how exactly has she made that commitment? By getting the directions tattooed onto her hands.

The Trials She's Faced

stock photo person in plaid shirt driving in car

Photo Credit: Pexels

D'Kodia reportedly often had difficulty throughout her life struggling to remember which direction was left vs. right, and it became more of a problem as she got older.

She said her friends would often poke fun at her for being an adult who still needed to hold up an L with her left hand. D'Kodia even talks about one particular incident during a scavenger hunt party where she was nominated as a navigator for her team, but she kept instructing the driver to turn in the wrong direction.

It Started As A Joke

Photo Credit: Unsplash / Guilia May

Since it was widely known in D'Kodia's friend group that she struggled to remember which direction was left or right, her friend penned the letters on her hand as a joke.

It grew into a permanent addition to her hands though, she said in an interview, after she realized "it's actually super useful and I don't look dumb making an L with my fingers to figure it out."

The Tiny Tattoo Reveal

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To seal the directions into ink, D'Kodia found a tattoo artist in Sydney to get the job done.

Tattoo artist Lauren Winzer of Hunter and Fox Tattoo in Sydney posted a photo of the tattoo to her personal Instagram page, noting that tattoos can be cute while also still being "super functional."

Tiny Tattoos Are Popping Up More And More

a tattoo of little hands holding a heart

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This is such a cute and simple way to get a tattoo that means so much.

Love comes in all forms for all different types of people, and so the ink that represents that can too.

Matching Ones With The Person Who Brings You Light

two people with their hands on top of each other's with a matching tattoo of a sunrise

Photo Credit: @mellowpokes / Instagram

This matching tattoo is such a sweet way to remind yourself of home and of loved ones.

No matter how far away from them you are, when you look at it, you'll know both of your are sharing the same sun, and that's pretty cute.

These Ankles Don't Stop Raving For Anyone

Photo Credit: @flashypokes / Instagram

The party doesn't ever stop when you get this funky little ankle piece. Your feet won't stop moving until long after the music stops.

Maybe the reason your one coworker won't stop fidgeting is because of this piece.

The Fastest And Tiniest Good Boy

tiny running dog tattoo on someone's arm

Photo Credit: @mrprestontattoo / Instagram

This fast-moving dog is the littlest reminder to keep on moving no matter what.

Every time you look down at your arm you'll be reminded to keep giving it your all like this hound pounding the ground.

I Wish This Would Bee On My Body

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If you needed more incentive to save the bees, then this tattoo is it.

It's the cutest little reminder that we're not the only ones on the planet and that we have a responsibility to take care of it.

Delicate Flowers Won't Give You The Cold Shoulder

a person with a small branch of flowers on her collar bone

Photo Credit: @tattooist_keter / Instagram

These flowers may be the perfect tattoo that peeks out when you rock your cold-shoulder style tops, but this cute design is anything but cold.

The flowers are a sweet reminder that tattoos may hurt, but the result can be as delicate as you want them to be.

It's A Banner Day When You Get This Little Banner

colorful piece of a painting tattooed on someone's forearm

Photo Credit: @caotida / Instagram

This tiny banner is the perfect piece to add a little art into your life.

Its Japanese wood-cut inspired design is that little something to remind people that you, yourself, are in fact a piece of art.

A Gentle Reminder Of A Friend Lost

Photo Credit: @tinytattoo_inspo / Instagram

Pets are truly our best friends, and we sometimes want to get some work done in their memory.

You don't always have to opt for a big portrait of them; some tiny tasteful little paws running down your arm will do the trick.

Little Bit Of Love

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Text tattoos don't always have to be the "no ragrets" chest-piece we see in the movies—they can be cute little sayings written in a minimalist style.

I have much more love to give to this tattoo.

Just In Case You Have Trouble Remembering Your House Number

someone with the numbers 65 and 67 tattooed on the inside of their elbows

Photo Credit: @flashypokes / Instagram

This minimalist number tattoo is here to remind you that number tattoos don't have to be big, ornate pieces.

This artist creatively placed them to achieve symmetry and give this person's body a delicate balance. Oh, and to help them remember their house number.

Tiny Rabbit Warrior To Defend Your Honor

tiny tattoo of a rabbit holding a sword and shield

Photo Credit: @andy__small / Instagram

We all need someone in our lives to be on our side.

If you don't have that person, then get this cute little warrior, because they're always at the ready to slay a ruffian disrespecting you in traffic.

Shadow Puppets Forever

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If you're not quite done with your childhood and that fun little game where you projected shadow puppets on the wall, then this one is for you.

It's a cute little piece of your past, and it's so fitting on this person's arm.

To Commemorate Your Mom's Uncanny Finding Ability

Photo Credit: @small.tattoos / Instagram

Moms just know...everything. They have a sixth sense for where you put your keys, where your wallet is, and where you were last night.

Might as well get a tattoo to remind yourself who the first person you should text always should be.

For Anyone Who's Still Not Over The Ending Of Inception

Photo Credit: @a.lanabananatattoo / Instagram

If you're still wondering whether it was all a dream, then get ready to keep questioning it every time you look down.

This tiny little piece of a movie that messed us all up will give you a moment of pause whenever you see your arm in your peripheral vision.

The Tiny Street Where You Grew Up

small red house tattoo with power lines tattooed around it

Photo Credit: @gentlepokes / Instagram

These tiny little pieces of home are perfect for anyone who's moved away and still wants to feel connected to the place they were born.

Getting a quaint little town scene is the perfect way to remember that.

Replace Piercings With Tattoos

a fleur-de-lys design tattooed on the side of someone's ear

Photo Credit: Reddit / Eurwen4

This delicate tattoo is a nice nod to the person's French background in a place that's not easily noticeable.

Also, FYI for anyone thinking about it: ear tattoos apparently don't hurt much due to a lack of nerves in the area.