So the Spoon Theory is a fundamental metaphor used often in the chronic pain/chronic illness communities to explain to non-spoonies why life is harder for them. It’s super useful and we use that all the time.
But it has a corollary.
You know the phrase, “Stick a fork in me, I’m done,” right?
Well, Fork Theory is that one has a Fork Limit, that is, you can probably cope okay with one fork stuck in you, maybe two or three, but at some point you will lose your shit if one more fork happens.
A fork could range from being hungry or having to pee to getting a new bill or a new diagnosis of illness. There are lots of different sizes of forks, and volume vs. quantity means that the fork limit is not absolute. I might be able to deal with 20 tiny little escargot fork annoyances, such as a hangnail or slightly suboptimal pants, but not even one “you poked my trigger on purpose because you think it’s fun to see me melt down” pitchfork.
This is super relevant for neurodivergent folk. Like, you might be able to deal with your feet being cold or a tag, but not both. Hubby describes the situation as “It may seem weird that I just get up and leave the conversation to go to the bathroom, but you just dumped a new financial burden on me and I already had to pee, and going to the bathroom is the fork I can get rid of the fastest.”
be christ-like this christmas. gather a crowd and inspire them to anarchism. beat a politician with a whip. help out your local sex workers. preach equality.
Aang: But it’s true, isn’t it? (Cut to a close up of a depressed Aang) We kissed at the invasion and I thought we were going to be together but we’re not. Katara: Aang, (shakes her head) I don’t know. Aang: Why don’t you know? Katara: (seriously) Because we’re in the middle of a war and (folds her arms and looks towards the theatre) we have other things to worry about. This isn’t the right time. Aang: (Cut to a close up of an impatient Aang) Well, when is the right time? Katara: Aang, I’m sorry but right now,I’m just a little confused.
Next is the Water chakra. This chakra deals with pleasure, and is blocked by guilt. Now, look at all the guilt which burdens you so. What do you blame yourself for? Accept the reality that these things happened, but do not let them cloud and poison your energy. If you are to be a positive influence on the world, you need to forgive yourself.
Third is the Fire chakra, located in the stomach. This chakra deals with will power and is blocked by shame. What are you ashamed of? What are your biggest disappointments in yourself? You will never find balance if you deny this part of your life. Accept & love all the aspects of who you are, even your mistakes.
This post remains, honestly, one of my most beloved posts for several reasons:
1. That my totally unconvincing pearl-clutching ‘oh no’ comment has stayed with it through its last few waves of making the rounds
2. That these are JUST CLIPS FROM THE FILM placed next to each other and yet it has been repeatedly tagged “nsfw” by people JUST FROM THEM BEING NEAR EACH OTHER
3. The tags on this post are some of my favorite things ever, like to the point where I have made numerous separate posts just about the tags. I once read some of them aloud to my husband and we started laugh-crying.
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