Why am I going to redefine Spoon Theory, is it because the theory doesn’t work for me? Is it because I feel the concept is difficult to understand? Or maybe I think the whole idea is ridiculous.

Well as it turns out there is nothing wrong with Spoon Theory, I just want to replace the utensil.

Replace the utensil?

To what? You may ask.

Forks!

That’s right from now on I’m calling it Fork Theory.

But I digress, for those folks who are reading this and are pretty confused and scratching their heads asking what in the world is Spoon Theory here is what Wikipedia has to say on the subject.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory

The term spoons was coined by Christine Miserandino in 2003 in her essay “The Spoon Theory.” While out to eat with a friend, Miserandino’s friend began watching her as she took her medication and suddenly asked what it was like to have lupus. Miserandino grabbed spoons from around the diner where they sat and gave her friend the handful of spoons she had gathered. The spoons helped Miserandino to show the way that people with chronic illness often start their days off with limited degrees of energy. The number of spoons her friend had was how much energy she had to spend throughout the day.

As Miserandino’s friend stated the different tasks she completes throughout the day, Miserandino took away a spoon for each activity. She took spoon after spoon until her friend only had one spoon left. Her friend then stated that she was hungry. To which Miserandino replied that eating would use another spoon. If she were to cook, a spoon would be needed for cooking. She would have to select her next move wisely to conserve her energy for the rest of the night.

Also here is a direct link to her Essay In case you want to read more about it.

https://cdn.totalcomputersusa.com/butyoudontlooksick.com/uploads/2010/02/BYDLS-TheSpoonTheory.pdf

Even though the Theory applies to folks with chronic illnesses I believe it also works for folks dealing with mental illnesses as well, especially depression. I even introduced Spoon Theory to my mother who has severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It has made a huge difference in how she plans her day.

As my husband and I recover from COVID and are still dealing with fatigue, I am also applying the Theory to my day. Yesterday was a good example, I completed a few activities in the morning and we went to the movies. By the time we got home, I had so little energy left that I lay in bed and barely moved the rest of the day, I even barely had any energy to eat dinner.

But it wasn’t just a lack of physical energy it was also a lack of mental energy which is why for me I am changing it to Fork Theory.

Cause frankly there are days when I may be dealing with anxiety and depression and I have no more Forks left to give. Dealing with COVID and seeing how my mother has to get through her day has helped me understand how folks with chronic illnesses have to get through their days.

I just personally think for very obvious reasons that we should replace Spoons with Forks.

Because I know that for those folks dealing with those Chronic Illnesses or those dealing with Mental Illnesses there are just some days that you have No More Forks to Give.