The theory was developed by Christine Miserandino to explain
what it is like living with a chronic illness or disability (the whole spoon
thing may seem weird to you, but she was in a diner when she came up with the analogy
and my guess is that knives would have been a bit more dangerous to play with):
“The difference in
being sick and being healthy is having to make choices or to consciously think
about things when the rest of the world doesn’t have to. The healthy have the
luxury of a life without choices, a gift most people take for granted.
Most people start the
day with unlimited amount of possibilities, and energy to do whatever they
desire, especially young people. For the most part, they do not need to worry
about the effects of their actions… I used spoons to convey this point.”
A healthy person will have an unlimited number of spoons,
but a Spoonie, someone with a chronic
illness or disability, will wake up in the morning with a limited number.
Throughout the day, each task and activity will cost you x spoons (3 spoons for
getting to work, 1 spoon for making breakfast, 2 spoons to commute to work, 2
spoons for lunch, etc). When you are out
of spoons, you are out of spoons. Don’t even think about going into a spoon
deficit as you will be left with less spoons for the next day.
I could plan my days, weeks, months on the 24-hour clock
pre-concussion with the only real roadblock being that I couldn’t be in two
places at one time. Now, however, I am always thinking of my energy reserve and
the opportunity cost of every move I make. Miserandino summarizes this struggle well: “I need to think [of] the whole day’s plans before I can attack any one given thing. When
other people can simply do things, I have to attack it and make a plan like I
am strategizing a war. It is in that lifestyle, the difference between being
sick and healthy. It is the beautiful ability to not think and just do. I miss
that freedom. I miss never having to count 'spoons'.”
You can read The SpoonTheory here. Miserandino does an amazing job of explaining what
it feels like to be me these days (well, not like really me as she is talking about herself, but it could very well be about
me).
That's it for today. Have a wonderful weekend!
- K
xoxo
That's it for today. Have a wonderful weekend!
- K
xoxo
So happy I found your blog! The spoon analogy is right on the money. I thought I’d share my own concussion blog in case you’re interested. I also want to become a brain injury advocate when I’m a bit more healed and put my human rights and legal skills to good use in this field. Let me know if you have any suggestions. https://concussionchronicles.wordpress.com/2018/11/29/time-why-do-you-punish-me/
ReplyDeleteJust read your blog and I can relate to it on so many levels! You’re already advocating by getting your story out there. ☺️ I’m sending you positive energy and healing vibes. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or if you just need to talk. We’re in this together!
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