Appearances can be confusing. They can also be misleading. If you were to see me on the street and say hello you would never know what I have or haven't been through in my life or day. In much the same way as I do not know about you. It is not until we sit down and truly discuss what makes us different (or the same) that we can understand and appreciate each-other's journeys. I'm not saying my life path is on a downward trajectory that is one day going to reach oblivion and I will have no choice but to curl up in the fetal position and die. Not at all. What I mean is that I may have more ups and downs in my life than the average person.
Take the spoon theory. I've posted a link before but for those of you that have never heard it I will briefly recap (but I suggest reading the whole thing for yourselves for the full effect).
The spoon theory says that everyone wakes up each morning with an allotment of spoons. Some have more and some have less. Those that have a chronic illness tend to have less. Every time you must perform a task you lose a spoon and once your spoons are gone you are done for the day. This isn't a major problem for most "normal" people as they have an abundance of spoons to get up in the morning, go to work, pick up the kids, make dinner and still have enough to walk the dog and clean the house. But us invisible illness sufferers have to pick and choose when things get done. If we cook dinner tonight will we be too tired to eat it? If we clean the house will we have to skip tucking our kids in to bed? Budgeting your spoons is a very delicate task.
As of late I have been very blessed with my spoon allotment. There seems to be enough to go around work, school and even some left to get ahead on homework and projects.
So next time you see me on the street don't just assume that I'm being a snob and don't want to get coffee with you. Maybe I just can't afford a spoon loss that day.
