Thank you Carrie! I find the spoon theory quite applicable to daily life. As a person with a significant physical disability (who you met very briefly in Sundusky last week) I feel that this gives voice to the extra effort for daily tasks in my life in a way that is more accessible for non-disabled folk to understand. I wonder how my experience of the human condition has perhaps sharpened my ability to fashion spoons with unlikely tools from uncommon material as I strive to remain a resilient spirit in a world that's often not equipped for me, physically emotionally, or financially. Community is a powerful catalyst in multiplying spoons and the gift of relationship is crucial. I continue to be deeply touched by your music and writing.
Thank you for writing about spoons; it’s a metaphor I use in my daily life. I kindly ask that you make an addendum to your newsletter and post to credit the person who developed the spoon theory: Christine Miserandino. People with disabilities and/or chronic illness are so marginalized in US culture and it hurts to see the erasure (even if unintentionally) of a person with chronic illness and disability when referencing their work.
Recently diagnosed with cancer and feeling chronically tired, the spoons reflect how I must handle life in my new reality. Thank you. Three joyful spoons this morning to visit a junior in high school I’ve mentored for 9 years. Nancy Duggan
Dearest Nancy, Im so sorry to hear of this serious health challenge . Yes, leaning into what is joyful can be so life affirming, and healing. I will be holding you in the Light as you navigate treatment, and how to best use your energies in ways that give you life and help your healing.
Today’s post really resonated with me. As a person who happens to have metastatic breast cancer, my energy ebbs and flows. Some days I just want to sit and write or create even when a garden full of tasks and an Uber energetic puppy beckon to me. Even my spouse doesn’t always understand what this feels like. I’ll remember your analogy to use when it seems helpful. 💜
PS thanks for posting your Sunday musings free for everyone...helping my college twice special son leaves little discretionary funds at the moment. 🥰
I loved the spoon story. It is a great illustration and has great application. Thank you. Also, I have been following you for a few months. I look forward to your posts. What I find most helpful to my ministry are your reading suggestions. I have one for you, The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore. Well written, excellent research, and most relevant to our world today. Inspirational
Thank you Carrie for sharing your wise points of view, with which I almost always agree. Especially liked the spoon story today. I’ll not expect one of your spoons in response. I’ll look forward to meeting you when we both reach the other side and we all receive an unlimited number of spoons. GOD Bless.
For me, the spoon story speaks to the limitations of being human. Sometimes I think people feel they should strive to be superhuman. So they end up working really hard and not paying attention to what their bodies are telling them. As if being exhausted isn't really important. I need to conquer this, go beyond my limitations. I know I've dealt with this myself. But self-compassion calls us to pay attention to our limitations and what our bodies are saying. You capture this paying attention so well in the lyrics for "Like Molly Brown." "Pull and rest pull and rest."
I’ve already started rereading here and there. I’m just finishing “The History of Rain” and oh my…what incredible poetic writing. The kind I just have to keep putting down the book to take a deep appreciative breath….like every page :-) I love the spoon thing. Glad you did too.
I just shared your spoon story with a small group of my best friends from the retirement community where I live, the church I attend, and former work companions. Each is a busy person not because of employment in all but one case these are also retirees, but in giving too much of themselves to others. Each is a person full of love and willing to do almost anything to help another person in need or a good cause. I fear I fit that same description and am starting to learn to say a 'Holy No' as taught by one of these friends to things that I say yes to that make me overly busy, anxious and not attentive to my own needs and those of my husband. Thanks for the spoon story and the chance to share it with people I love.
What a lovely story and a great way to say no to something that I no longer have enough spoons for.
I have just spent lovely time with a family member that was estranged for many years. Catching up with stories has been wonderful. The trip here cost me several spoons but was worth them all.
Reading about spoons immediately made me think of a prayer group friend living with ALS in an assisted living facility. The nurses aids have no clue that she has a debilitating condition and continue to push her to do more to make their lives easier. I plan to share this with my friend in hopes that it helps her get through to the nursing staff. Namaste!
It is so tempting to think we have more spoons than we do. As a caregiver I constantly find myself tempted to just do that one extra thing that I just know I can squeeze in. It takes effort to slow down and say no, and there’s so much pressure to do it all. Caregiving takes lots of energy and recharging my batteries with self-care is an ongoing practice Im trying to learn how to do better at. Our society seems to be trying to teach all of us how to be intentional about where we put our time and energy.
Metaphors can so often give a powerful voice to vague concepts - Thank you Carrie for your
post and for sharing this story
Thank you Carrie! I find the spoon theory quite applicable to daily life. As a person with a significant physical disability (who you met very briefly in Sundusky last week) I feel that this gives voice to the extra effort for daily tasks in my life in a way that is more accessible for non-disabled folk to understand. I wonder how my experience of the human condition has perhaps sharpened my ability to fashion spoons with unlikely tools from uncommon material as I strive to remain a resilient spirit in a world that's often not equipped for me, physically emotionally, or financially. Community is a powerful catalyst in multiplying spoons and the gift of relationship is crucial. I continue to be deeply touched by your music and writing.
Thank you for writing about spoons; it’s a metaphor I use in my daily life. I kindly ask that you make an addendum to your newsletter and post to credit the person who developed the spoon theory: Christine Miserandino. People with disabilities and/or chronic illness are so marginalized in US culture and it hurts to see the erasure (even if unintentionally) of a person with chronic illness and disability when referencing their work.
Here is a link to Ms. Miserandino’s website: https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/. A quick google search will confirm that she’s widely credited as the developer of this theory but as one verification, here’s a link to a reference from the Cleveland Clinic that credits Ms. Miserandino as the developer of the spoon theory: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/spoon-theory-chronic-illness/.
Recently diagnosed with cancer and feeling chronically tired, the spoons reflect how I must handle life in my new reality. Thank you. Three joyful spoons this morning to visit a junior in high school I’ve mentored for 9 years. Nancy Duggan
Dearest Nancy, Im so sorry to hear of this serious health challenge . Yes, leaning into what is joyful can be so life affirming, and healing. I will be holding you in the Light as you navigate treatment, and how to best use your energies in ways that give you life and help your healing.
Today’s post really resonated with me. As a person who happens to have metastatic breast cancer, my energy ebbs and flows. Some days I just want to sit and write or create even when a garden full of tasks and an Uber energetic puppy beckon to me. Even my spouse doesn’t always understand what this feels like. I’ll remember your analogy to use when it seems helpful. 💜
PS thanks for posting your Sunday musings free for everyone...helping my college twice special son leaves little discretionary funds at the moment. 🥰
Thanks so much for articulating this concept so well.
Blessings Carrie 🎶❤️
I loved the spoon story. It is a great illustration and has great application. Thank you. Also, I have been following you for a few months. I look forward to your posts. What I find most helpful to my ministry are your reading suggestions. I have one for you, The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore. Well written, excellent research, and most relevant to our world today. Inspirational
Rev. Larry D. Laine, Lutheran Minister
Carrie, thank you so much for this allegory. I'm crying now. My silverware drawer is quite empty.
I know the drawer can get empty. Hang in the my friend. We’re all holding you in the light - and sending spoons of compassion.
Thank you Carrie for sharing your wise points of view, with which I almost always agree. Especially liked the spoon story today. I’ll not expect one of your spoons in response. I’ll look forward to meeting you when we both reach the other side and we all receive an unlimited number of spoons. GOD Bless.
For me, the spoon story speaks to the limitations of being human. Sometimes I think people feel they should strive to be superhuman. So they end up working really hard and not paying attention to what their bodies are telling them. As if being exhausted isn't really important. I need to conquer this, go beyond my limitations. I know I've dealt with this myself. But self-compassion calls us to pay attention to our limitations and what our bodies are saying. You capture this paying attention so well in the lyrics for "Like Molly Brown." "Pull and rest pull and rest."
LOVE the book This Is Happiness. That’s one to hold onto and re-read.
Thank you for the spoons!
I’ve already started rereading here and there. I’m just finishing “The History of Rain” and oh my…what incredible poetic writing. The kind I just have to keep putting down the book to take a deep appreciative breath….like every page :-) I love the spoon thing. Glad you did too.
I just shared your spoon story with a small group of my best friends from the retirement community where I live, the church I attend, and former work companions. Each is a busy person not because of employment in all but one case these are also retirees, but in giving too much of themselves to others. Each is a person full of love and willing to do almost anything to help another person in need or a good cause. I fear I fit that same description and am starting to learn to say a 'Holy No' as taught by one of these friends to things that I say yes to that make me overly busy, anxious and not attentive to my own needs and those of my husband. Thanks for the spoon story and the chance to share it with people I love.
What a lovely story and a great way to say no to something that I no longer have enough spoons for.
I have just spent lovely time with a family member that was estranged for many years. Catching up with stories has been wonderful. The trip here cost me several spoons but was worth them all.
Thank you Carrie, this makes an explanation of why I just don't have the steam to participate quite relatable.
I really find your outlook on many things so interesting and so often, I'm feeling smarter than before I read the article.
Thank you Carrie
Reading about spoons immediately made me think of a prayer group friend living with ALS in an assisted living facility. The nurses aids have no clue that she has a debilitating condition and continue to push her to do more to make their lives easier. I plan to share this with my friend in hopes that it helps her get through to the nursing staff. Namaste!
It is so tempting to think we have more spoons than we do. As a caregiver I constantly find myself tempted to just do that one extra thing that I just know I can squeeze in. It takes effort to slow down and say no, and there’s so much pressure to do it all. Caregiving takes lots of energy and recharging my batteries with self-care is an ongoing practice Im trying to learn how to do better at. Our society seems to be trying to teach all of us how to be intentional about where we put our time and energy.