The Spoon Theory, written by Christine Miserandino on her blog “But You Don’t Look Sick” is quite popular with the disability crowd. It’s essentially a story about living with lupus, and how she starts each day with a handful of spoons. Each time she does something taxing, she loses a spoon, and eventually they are all gone.

Some people don’t like the spoon theory at all, like this guy. I have my doubts, too. I probably would’ve chosen a different metaphor, because who starts or ends their day holding a bunch of spoons? Or any other cutlery, for that matter? I also don’t believe that so-called “healthy” people have an infinite amount of spoons. We’re all counting something: hours, dollars, patience… But the thing I like least is the sickening purple design. Ugh.

Despite my reservations, I think the story is a useful illustration of the limitations of fatigue and pain. I identify with it a lot, though my spoons are different from Miserandino’s. Mostly I don’t have much trouble getting up and dressed (other than choosing which dress to wear), but sometimes breakfast costs a spoon. Driving always burns through spoons. Computing is very spoon-intensive. Sometimes I’ll use up three spoons just having coffee, because the cafe chairs are crap and there aren’t any walls to lean against.

I often feel like it hard to describe all these things. So I’m pro-spoon. But not like this guy.