The Return of the Explanation of The Spear Theory, with a synchronicity-style comic!

[brightlotusmoon]

[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...]

Comments

[oneonthefence.livejournal.com]

I really wish I could find the post (your LJ? My LJ?) in which I came up with spears, handed the concept over to you, and you took off with it and let it do its thing. Dammit, where is that post? I remember it, I just don't know where it exists.

I'm glad it's catching on and works for you. :)

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I WANT to say it is in one of your posts. GAH MEMORY. We shall both look, why not. One of us will find it. I may even have it linked to one of my entries,,,

[oneonthefence.livejournal.com]

When was that - 2010? 2011? I have no damn clue! I just know it exists, somewhere in our vast journal collection... then, if we had THAT, you have the Origin Story (tm). The Genesis of Spears, ha.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

OMG! Found it! Google search with your username and "spears" and "shields". It was in my journal. YAAAY.

http://brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com/1473230.html

I'll add it to the link collection.

[oneonthefence.livejournal.com]

Holy shit Google! I'm almost freaked out that it was that easy to find. Very cool indeed. I knew we had an in-depth discussion about why spears worked better than anything else!

[oneonthefence.livejournal.com]

(And damn, now I remember the spoon theory woman not being as sick as she claimed to be. I think someone got mad at me when I said that, but it was the truth. Don't know how she is NOW, but as other people who commented said, the spoon theory just never sat right with me. It was off. Spears are better for fighters. And holy CRAP was I pregnant if that post was back in October of 2011. That had to have been a few days before James was born. Damn, I feel old. And that's the end of my rambling now, I swear.)

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I remember all of that! I think the author has gotten better once the shock of viral fame wore off. Even if she is not as sick as she claims, she did create a movement, so, hey, not too bad.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

You need absolute credit for this anyway. You started it!