Energy Privilege

Here's a privilege you might have, but not be aware of having: energy.

I'm not talking woo-woo spirit energy. I mean the energy, motivation, and vitality that you rely on pretty consistently, and that you can recharge reliably with food and rest (or supplement with caffeine / other drugs).

For those of us who have chronic/recurring health challenges, energy is often not a thing we can rely on having on a daily basis. This is often a blind spot for those who have "energy/wellness privilege," especially when giving advice.

The conversation often feels like this:

"I'm out of gas."

"Just drive to the gas station."

"I can't drive anywhere. I'm out of gas."

"Why'd you run out of gas?"

"There's a hole in my gas tank."

"Well you should get that fixed."

"Yeah, I'm trying. I fix it sometimes but then it breaks."

"Maybe you need a new car."

"I can't afford that."

"Why not?"

"Because I keep running out of gas on my way to work."

"Why?"

"Because, um... there's a hole in my gas tank."

"You should get that fixed."

Absurd, right? But this circular convo illustrates what it's like to be on the receiving end of advice to "just exercise more" or "try these 5 new diets" etc. Those things may indeed help, but sometimes the required effort can feel out of reach if you've already run out of gas.

This isn't meant to be critical of friends with well-meaning advice, just an appeal for awareness/empathy around something you may unknowingly take for granted.

Update 01.10.23: I just came across this meme, which sums up this idea perfectly.