The spoonie community can be a great encouragement to those who suffer from chronic illnesses. We were created to go through this journey together – it was never God’s intent that we travel through life alone.
I came across this article the other day about the poverty-stricken Las Palmitas neighborhood in Pachuca, Mexico.
For 14 months a group of artists, known as the German Crew, worked with the residents to turn this hillside town into an incredible, colorful mural. From a distance, the bold palette swirls from house to house to form a cohesive work of art.
The overall goal of the project was to bring about a unified community and change its negative image.
Project director, Enrique Gomez, said the thing that surprised him the most was the way the community seemed to change as a result of the project. In an area where once people would withdrawal behind closed doors as the sun would set, you now see neighbors talking in the alleys and stairways that flow through town. An increase in community spirit and a stronger sense of security are now growing.
As I scrolled through the picture gallery (you can see here) I couldn’t help but think of our own community. A community none of us signed up for but find ourselves all residents of.
If we, as the spoonie community at large, join together we can accomplish great things.
- We can support each other. Offer prayer, encouragement, and a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear.
- We can share our knowledge. We are all at different stages when it relates to our illnesses. Some are newly diagnosed and others have been fighting these battles for decades. Either way, we all have things we can offer to, and learn from, one another.
- We can offer a safe place of understanding. At times, we don’t want to have to “burden” our family and friends with another story of how bad we feel or how our symptoms are changing and increasing. You probably have family members and friends but you probably don’t have too many that have a chronic illness as well. An online community offers us strength in numbers. The ability to connect with others who are going through the same kinds of struggles we face each day.
- When you’re limited in your ability to get out with groups of people, an online community offers you friends at the click of a button that can be there to support you.
If you’re looking for a place where you can communicate with other spoonies you can hop over to my Instagram! You’ll find me there most days as well as others with chronic illness that can be an encouragement to you. Click here!
