Like so many #Spoonies out there I came across The Spoon Theory early in my diagnosis and it affected me in a big way because it was the first time I’d heard someone explain what I was living in such a way that allowed to make sense to those who didn’t live it.
I feel kinda bad because too often people think I wrote The Spoon Theory. I didn’t write it – that was Christine Miserandino of But You Don’t Look Sick.
How do you explain to those who have never lived with chronic pain and fatigue the ever changing energy levels that exist with these disorders? It seems virtually impossible, or at least it seemed that way until I read The Spoon Theory.
I was in tears by the time I finished reading it for the first time. Sure, it didn’t explain all the symptoms, the chronic pain, but it explained that one big piece of the pie that even my doctor didn’t want to grasp. It seemed like she had this idea that I should just push through it, park as far as away from my building as possible to make myself exercise despite barely feeling able to get out of the car let alone knowing how I’d feel when it was time to get back in it.
Nope, I didn’t write it. I just live it.
When I decided to start a blog about my life with Fibromyalgia, playing on the “spoons” thing just made sense to me, because it fit so well with what I was living. Even though Christine Miserandino didn’t write The Spoon Theory about Fibromyalgia (or even about chronic illness, in general) it fits. She actually wrote The Spoon Theory specifically about living life with Lupus. Granted Lupus and Fibromyalgia have many similarities and overlaps, to the point that most Fibromyalgia patients are tested annually for Lupus (because there’s a pretty high chance that it will eventually return a positive).
I’m sure she had no idea how much of an impact The Spoon Theory would have on those living with chronic invisible illnesses of all kinds. It went from something she’d written about life with Lupus to creating an entire community of #spoonies that have adopted it (people living with everything from migraines to surviving cancer). We are all Spoonies because we get what it’s like to live life with limited energy, with limited spoons.
There are times as my blog has grown and people have mistakenly thought that I was the one who wrote The Spoon Theory that I’ve thought I should change the name. I love the name, but I worry about stepping on other people’s toes. I don’t know Christine Miserandino. I don’t know if she’s ever even read my blog, but I know if I was her I’d probably get a little annoyed when someone attributed my work to a different author.
Christine, if you happen to be reading this, I’m really sorry if I’ve stepped on your toes or upset you by my choice of blog title. I never wanted to have that happen, it’s the very reason that in my bio (top right of the page) it explains that my blog was inspired by The Spoon Theory (and attributes it to the proper source). I do, however, want to publicly thank you for writing The Spoon Theory and providing such a great explanation for life with invisible illness that we can all share with our families. I know it helped me explain it to mine and I know it’s helped thousand (probably millions) of others.
Nope, I didn’t write The Spoon Theory, I just live it every day like millions of others.
I didn't write The Spoon Theory, I just live it. #spoonie @bydls http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ Share on XRelated Posts:
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