Hello friends! It’s certainly been a while. I like to think that 2020 has been messed up enough that I don’t have to have excuses, but any of you that have stuck with me through this hiatus deserve an explanation.
It all started when I got a new job at the end of August. I’ve been so blessed with a job that allows room for my personal life. My boss is incredibly kind and understanding of my humanity (which shouldn’t be such a shock, but it’s been a game changer). Shortly after the new job, we learned that my sweet sweet puppy, Draco (pictured below) has a SEVERE dairy intolerance. So, you can expect some allergy friendly dog treats some time soon! Not only was my puppy dog sick, but my boyfriend caught a germ as well. Don’t worry, we both tested negative for Covid, but it wasn’t without it’s own stress.
All this to say, September flew by in a blink. It wasn’t all bad though. I celebrated my 25th birthday this year, my baby sister turned 21, and, honestly, I’ve been finding my voice in the social justice sphere and it feels amazing. Friendly, necessary reminder to vote. I know, I know you probably hear it a bunch… In this time of constant chaos and change, it’s nice to know there’s a thing I can do to help. Try not to give people too much of a hard time for finding something that helps them feel needed and useful. We all need that.
What is a spoonie?
In short, a spoonie is someone living with chronic illness. Chronic illnesses, like chronic fatigue, are also sometimes referred to as invisible illnesses. Looking at someone with chronic illness, you can rarely tell they’re sick. There’s nothing physically wrong from what you can see. But, beneath the surface, there is so much that so many people will never truly understand.
From that very conversation about understanding invisible illness came The Spoon Theory. Developed by Christine Miserandino, The Spoon Theory explains how people with chronic illness need to constantly take stock of their energy (quantified by spoons) and ration accordingly to get daily tasks done. It’s something I’ve found very helpful in visualizing the changes needed in my own life now that I’m coming to terms with having a chronic illness.
I am a spoonie. And, honestly, I need to learn to take better care of my spoons.
In short, a spoonie is someone living with chronic illness.
So, what am I trying to accomplish here?
Well, mostly I just want to tell my story in the hopes of helping others. I’ve had some incredible influences since taking to the social internet with my experiences. I’d especially like to shout out @allergic.2.life and @hanishangry. These women, along with several others, continue to help me find the courage and the conviction to keep going. In both the food allergy and chronic illness communities I am so blessed to find people that share in my life experience.
So here’s the thing:
When I set out to write this article I thought it was going to be a cute, listicle post with advice on how to work through a chronic fatigue episode. Maybe someday I’ll write something like that, but I think this post is more to open up a new conversation.
There’s a lot of pressure from people who succeed online to maintain their Brand. Whatever your Brand is, that’s what you do with no exception. Otherwise, readers and followers might get confused… or so it has been explained to me. I think people deserve more credit than that. People are capable of grasping the complexities of individuality. Granted, in today’s discourse it’s difficult to believe that, but I know it’s possible.
I feel empowered and free to share this part of my experience with you. Maybe I can help someone else understand more about a friend or family member living with mental illness. I might even be able to help someone with a new diagnosis come to terms with their new reality. Maybe, just maybe, I can find the positives in this rather than focus on the negatives.
Is this blog turning into a journal? It certainly feels like it. Is that a bad thing? No. No, it’s not!
If this is a direction you appreciate about this blog, please feel free to let me know in the comments. Do you have questions about chronic illness?
I’m not a doctor, but I’m (obviously) very willing to talk about my experiences with you! Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions you might have. If I don’t have an answer, I’ll do my best to direct you to someone that does.
Also, if you’re new to the blog, I recommend you check out some of my egg free recipes like these buckeye mocha cookies!
Until next time friends, be safe and live well 🙂