Way back in the last century , when few people had computers, MSing involved mailing reports to MSCs, and no one had the analogy of recharging one's cell phone for recharging one's batteries, my divorced brother had the other MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and weekly visits with his brilliant, high-octane young daughter.

She was always ready to go and do and experience and discover. He was always ready to do as much of that as possible.

It was not always possible to do much. Sometimes the MS made Daddy tired or put him back in the wheelchair for awhile.


My niece could not understand fatigue, but she could understand money.

And a teachable moment was born.

"Let's pretend these five pennies are Daddy's energy. If I have five pennies, I have all the energy I need to do whatever you want. We can go everywhere on your list. If I have fewer pennies, we can only do a few things."

My niece soon learned to ask. "Daddy, how many pennies do you have today?"

She is now raising her family, and her Daddy has left the Earth plane.

But some of us MSers are doing our daily versions of counting pennies and trying to match tasks with available energy.

This little memory is offered in honor of the MSers who have the challenge of personal energy management and manage to do the MSing job despite difficulties.

Kudos to you.

Thanks for the posting Shop-et-al. It was nice to read something that made me pause for a moment and take stock. Bless you.

There's actually a very similar analogy that's called "The Spoon Theory". It can be found pretty easily online. I've frequently encouraged my friends and family to read it in order to better understand what someone with a chronic illness goes through. I actually have a rare neuromuscular disorder called myasthenia gravis and the Spoon Theory helped me put it into perspective for myself and helped other people in my life understand it, as well.

I loved your story! It is not what I thought it was going to be though. I thought it would be about your kids and how rich you would be. lol. I know I would be.

I suffer from Type 1 diabetes, fibromyalgia, and arthritis to name a few. But I am the type of person that doesn't stop until I just cannot go another inch. It is the way was I was raised. My dad has had no disc spacers in his back for 30 yrs. and yet still continues to work 40 hours a week on tractor trailers. My two children with the Asperger's and ADHD wears me out more than work. They keep you going 100 miles a minute all day long, not only physically but mentally too. I love them both to pieces but they take a lot of energy and patience. lol

Spoon Theory was published in 2003 or so.

My niece was launched by then.

When I think of spoon, I think of something else. But this concept helps many people today.

Thank you, Shop-et-al, for reminding me of priorities.