Writers can find analogies in just about anything! Cutlery, for example, but I want to save fork analogies for another day.

Have you heard of the Spoon Theory? It was created by Christine Miserandino in trying to explain to a friend what living with Lupus was like. In a tiny nutshell, it’s the theory that we wake up with a full set of spoons (energy) to get through our day. Well, some wake up with more spoons than others. And some acts take away spoons in varying degrees, depending on the person. https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/

For some, ten spoons carefully distributed can last until bedtime.

For a person born in the inner city, the hand they’ve been dealt may only provide
five spoons to start with.

For a person with sensory issues, a shower could take away most of the spoons before breakfast…

For my friend with cerebral palsy, putting on his socks takes an hour.

You get the picture.

When I was a single mom, some days I would be lucky to have ONE spoon, yet I had no choice but to go on. That’s desperation with no end in sight.

Now that I’m in a different place in life, I have spoons to spare. It doesn’t mean I don’t have problems. I do. Some of them are pretty big, but energy-wise, I no longer run on empty 24/7.

Where are you on the spoon grid? Would you love a day off, a day to re-group and truly let go of overwhelming responsibilities, even for a little while? Or are you the person who could give that person a day off? Take care of theirs kids. Run an errand for them. Slip them a massage gift certificate.

Maybe, as a society, we would be wise to focus more on spoons…and less on knives.