The Return of the Explanation of The Spear Theory, with a synchronicity-style comic!
[Originally posted in two disability forums and chronic pain groups]
I've realized that I may be the only person here who has stopped applying Spoons to myself. And there may have been some miscommunication or misunderstandings in other groups and forums. I am happy to call myself a spoonie and use spoons, but I use spears more.
I really wanted to explain why.
I'm totally happy with the Spoon Theory, but I decided to expand on it after a discussion with a friend who has almost thirty separate health conditions. So, I wanted to tell you all what I mean when I say Spears instead of Spoons. I'm linking to some of my blog posts that talk about my Spear Theory.
I know this is a lot of links, but they really explain why I use spears. I am still a spoonie! I do use spoons. But I also use spears. They just apply more intensely to me.
And then there is this!
http://internal-acceptance-movement.tumblr.com/post/61136577036
- I emailed the creator of this artwork, and she was incredibly flattered that her piece reflected the exact thing I feel about myself. It is so uncanny that I keep coming back to it in awe. Every time I look at it, every time I read it, I get chills.Ah, and here is email exchange between me and the author:"Hi Jenny!
I recently saw that extraordinary art about being your own hero in the face of chronic pain. A friend said, "This is your Spear Theory!" And it is. I was born with cerebral palsy and a host of issues including fibromyalgia, major depression, panic disorder, a spectrum disorder, and around two dozen separate diagnosed disabilities. I created The Spear Theory as an alternative to The Spoon Theory. I'd love to chat with you about it!
In fact, here is a note I wrote up about it... and isn't it amazing how well your art piece illustrates what is in my head when I think about my theory? Because I always imagine being outside in a forest, wrapping myself in bandages and armor, waiting outside my cave-like fortress for the Pain Monsters. [Note Attached}
-Joanna"
"Joanna,
That's so amazing. I love that. I love it so much, and I love how it instills more of a self-empowering connotation to the situation than the Spoon Theory (which still stands as a strong theory, but the connotation differs greatly, I'd like to think!) It's so funny how my comic like, pretty much EXACTLY depicted your Spear Theory! The universe is crazy sometimes, I swear.
And thanks so much for sharing with me your story and experiences. To be honest, I didn't even know about the Spoon Theory prior to this e-mail and its ties to fibromyalgia, so thank you for enlightening me.
You're such a strong soul and individual, I can already see that just from reading your livejournal posts. I don't even know you personally!
Keep being beautiful, okay? Keep writing, keep sharing your experiences.
I only wish I had half the courage you have to face the day from a day-to-day basis.
Much love,
Jenny"
The fact that she hadn't even known about the Spoon Theory and had described the Spear Theory so well was also impressive in a very Jungian way.
Here are my blog posts tagged with the tag 'spears'. Feel free to browse.
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1473230.html (the entry that started it all with my friend; aka "The Genesis Of The Spear Theory. Hi, Mandi!)
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1520669.html
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1571702.html
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1565840.html
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1565955.html
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1555991.html
[Also, I had to save this somewhere...]
I've realized that I may be the only person here who has stopped applying Spoons to myself. And there may have been some miscommunication or misunderstandings in other groups and forums. I am happy to call myself a spoonie and use spoons, but I use spears more.
I really wanted to explain why.
I'm totally happy with the Spoon Theory, but I decided to expand on it after a discussion with a friend who has almost thirty separate health conditions. So, I wanted to tell you all what I mean when I say Spears instead of Spoons. I'm linking to some of my blog posts that talk about my Spear Theory.
I know this is a lot of links, but they really explain why I use spears. I am still a spoonie! I do use spoons. But I also use spears. They just apply more intensely to me.
And then there is this!
http://internal-acceptance-movement.tumblr.com/post/61136577036
- I emailed the creator of this artwork, and she was incredibly flattered that her piece reflected the exact thing I feel about myself. It is so uncanny that I keep coming back to it in awe. Every time I look at it, every time I read it, I get chills.Ah, and here is email exchange between me and the author:"Hi Jenny!
I recently saw that extraordinary art about being your own hero in the face of chronic pain. A friend said, "This is your Spear Theory!" And it is. I was born with cerebral palsy and a host of issues including fibromyalgia, major depression, panic disorder, a spectrum disorder, and around two dozen separate diagnosed disabilities. I created The Spear Theory as an alternative to The Spoon Theory. I'd love to chat with you about it!
In fact, here is a note I wrote up about it... and isn't it amazing how well your art piece illustrates what is in my head when I think about my theory? Because I always imagine being outside in a forest, wrapping myself in bandages and armor, waiting outside my cave-like fortress for the Pain Monsters. [Note Attached}
-Joanna"
"Joanna,
That's so amazing. I love that. I love it so much, and I love how it instills more of a self-empowering connotation to the situation than the Spoon Theory (which still stands as a strong theory, but the connotation differs greatly, I'd like to think!) It's so funny how my comic like, pretty much EXACTLY depicted your Spear Theory! The universe is crazy sometimes, I swear.
And thanks so much for sharing with me your story and experiences. To be honest, I didn't even know about the Spoon Theory prior to this e-mail and its ties to fibromyalgia, so thank you for enlightening me.
You're such a strong soul and individual, I can already see that just from reading your livejournal posts. I don't even know you personally!
Keep being beautiful, okay? Keep writing, keep sharing your experiences.
I only wish I had half the courage you have to face the day from a day-to-day basis.
Much love,
Jenny"
The fact that she hadn't even known about the Spoon Theory and had described the Spear Theory so well was also impressive in a very Jungian way.
Here are my blog posts tagged with the tag 'spears'. Feel free to browse.
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1473230.html (the entry that started it all with my friend; aka "The Genesis Of The Spear Theory. Hi, Mandi!)
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1520669.html
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1571702.html
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1565840.html
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1565955.html
http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1555991.html
[Also, I had to save this somewhere...]