'One chain don't make no prison' is a line from a song that the Santana recorded about 12-15 years ago (link below). I am taking writers liberty on this in order to help you see that perhaps you have made a prison out of a simple link in a chain. You are probably thinking "no I haven't" or "what is she talking about?"
The essence of the song is that one simple mistake could create a lifetime of sadness. In so many instances, I have made a mountain out of a molehill as the saying goes blowing things out of proportion. Let's not make this about me even though this has been a theme in my life.
So many minute problems in life can become overwhelming when we began to overthink and look at worst case scenarios. Yesterday, I was with someone having this exact discussion almost verbatim. Why do we do this? Usually it's fear and that fear is capable of bringing to pass the worst. This has been my experience and may have been yours as well.
One chain! Have you ever been pulled over by a person of authority, i.e. a cop or a state trooper? Truth telling time here.I have and more than once for speeding, hitting a telephone pole (public property ha ha ha), making an illegal maneuver that you knew better than to make?
I will not defend myself here because in most cases I was in the wrong and I knew it. As the 'person of authority' approaches your vehicle, what goes through your mind? Oh no, I could go to jail, I could pay a huge fine, I can make up a story for why I did what I did. Been there, done that and I believe I even have the t-shirt.
Then the officer writes a warning and sets you free. But you have already played the record over and over in a short period of time that puts you under the jail house. You stressed yourself out and for what? The worst didn't happen and you roll on down the road. If you are paying attention next time, this won't happen again.
One chain! We do build our own prisons folks. We go out and buy the bricks, build the walls, put the lock on and slam the prison door shut on ourselves. I won't say we all do it, but I will say in all likelihood, most of us do or have done it. Is our prison a safe place? Does it feel like a safe place? For me over the years, a prison of my own making felt safe where if I kept myself locked in, no one else could get to me.
There is another song by the Eagles titled Already Gone (link below) that has a stanza that is true:
"Well, I know it wasn't you who held me down
Heaven knows it wasn't you who set me free
So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key"
Picture yourself sitting in a prison or jail cell with the key in YOUR hand! We hold ourselves down and we have the power to unlock that prison door and walk out. "Where is it?" you ask. It's in your mind. Don't sit there feeling sorry for yourself. Take that key, unlock that door and walk out.
Already Gone: https://youtu.be/yJD8ABf5jbY?si=Ii5Avi9LC6uQ4uVZ
Comments