Once upon a time there was a beautiful fairy princess who used to fly and twirl and laugh up in the sky way up high.
Until one day…
A boy from school told her “Why do you fly and twirl like that all the time? It’s stupid. Here hold this chain.” And, like a polite fairy princess, she did… while he wrapped the chain around her.
Fairy Princess tried to forget what the boy said and pretended that it didn’t bother her, but she didn’t fly quite as high and she didn’t twirl quite as often.
Until one day… Her step-sister said “You have a big bump on your nose. Here hold this chain.” And, even though she was crying, Fairy Princess held the chain while her step-sister wrapped it around her.
Fairy Princess had never noticed anything wrong with her nose before her step-sister pointed out the bump, and now she started to wonder what else was wrong with her.
Were her ears too big?
Was she too tall?
Too short?
Was her laugh too loud?
Did she snort?
And, like magic, a chain appeared every time she thought one of these thoughts. And, like a polite fairy princess, she wrapped the chains around herself.
Fairy Princess tried to pretend she was like before, but she couldn’t twirl and she could barely get her feet off the ground there were so many chains holding her down.
Until, one day, she just couldn’t take it anymore and sat down to cry.
A little mouse was out gathering food for her family and noticed Fairy Princess crying.
“What’s wrong Fairy Princess?” asked Mouse.
“I’m horrible. I can’t fly, I have a big nose and even bigger ears. I’m awful. I’m locked in these chains and can’t get out. There’s no hope for me.” sobbed Fairy Princess.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” said Mouse. “Is there anything I can do?”
“No. There’s nothing anybody can do. It’s hopeless. I’m a loser.” sobbed Fairy Princess.
“Well, let me see if I can think of anything just in case.” said Mouse kindly. And Mouse, thought… and as she thought she walked around Fairy Princess looking at all of the chains. Some of them were very rusty, as though they’d been wrapped in place for a very, very long time.
“Excuse me, Fairy Princess.” said Mouse.
“What is it?” replied the princess politely.
“Did you say the chains were locked around you? Because I can’t see any locks.” said Mouse meekly.
“What do you mean?” asked the princess haughtily. “Of course, there are locks! What else would be holding these chains in place?”
“I’ll look again,” replied Mouse “but do you think you could show me where the locks are?”
“Certainly! They’re right over here.” But they weren’t.
“They must be over here.” But they weren’t.
“Well, the locks must be somewhere.” harrumphed Fairy Princess.
“Is it possible that the chains stay in place because you’re holding the ends in your hands?” asked Mouse meekly.
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
“Could you let go of one of the chains so we can see what happens?” asked Mouse.
“I think you’re very wrong, but I was raised to be a polite fairy princess so I’ll do it. Just to show you how very wrong you are.” said Fairy Princess as she let go of one of the chains.
And, wouldn’t you know it? The chain fell to the ground.
“Try another one!” squeaked Mouse excitedly.
So Fairy Princess let go of another chain.
And, wouldn’t you know it? That chain fell to the ground!
And the next one, and the next one. Until finally, all of the chains were gone!
“I’m free! What can I ever do to thank you?” cried Fairy Princess.
“Well,” said Mouse “I used to love to watch you fly high up in the sky and twirl. Do you think you could take me with you?”
And so they flew… and twirled… and laughed…
The end.
What chains are holding you on the ground? Wouldn’t you like to let them go?
Take a few minutes, close your eyes, and just imagine…
Imagine letting go of each and every chain that holds you down. How does it feel? Let me know in the comments.
Because…
You are extraordinary!
Are you finally starting to see it?
Lovely and well done. May I post either it or a link to a post of mine in the future? It fits so well with the work I do. Cherry
Thanks Cherry. Of course you can post an excerpt or link, thanks for asking.
Hmmm…chains…yes, I’d say I have a few. Over thinking things, not being at peace with my need to get away from my kids, comparing myself to my friends, self-critical on health and fitness and the fact that I seem to need a power nap everyday when I really feel I should be working…I could go on and on! Now, on letting them go, I’ve been “trying” to meditate all week in the mornings but only made it one of them. Something has to shift. I need a little mouse to help me with perspective!
Thanks for the post Katie!
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Glad you liked it Miriam, I’ve got a little mouse coming your way to unwrap some of those chains…
What a lovely story, Katie. I think I’ll have to borrow it when I work with my adolescent girls, it that’s okay with you.
I like how you weaved the politeness theme in there, as that is so constricting and ever present.
Hmmm…my chains. Probably that I don’t have enough time, which is untrue. TY for the reminder that I need to decide:). Clank!
Linda recently posted..Why Anxiety Is A Choice
Thanks Linda. Of course you can use it with your adolescent girls… I’ll have to find someone who can draw so we can turn it into a book
Lovely story, Katie…made me tear up….so many of us are held down by chains, created by society, ourselves, our disappointments in experiences make us tired & afraid to try again…I remember when I thought I could fly…
Thanks Kathy, so glad you liked it. I wanted to tell a story that would help people realize that, even though they may not have created the chains or realized what was happening when they picked up the ends, it’s not to late to unwrap them and re-learn to fly.
Wonderful story Katie!
My old believes about what I can accomplish chain me down. They pop up as negative thoughts when ever I try something new or if something I do don’t work out right away. I have to let go of people asking me” Where do you think you are going with that?” My family think that I am obsessed with blogging. If you asked them they would say: “You need to fly away from the computer, out into the world!” Even though they are probably right on one level. My perspective is: “I can fly wherever I want on the net and I have met a lot of very nice people that don’t ask where I think I am going.
Beautiful story! It reminds me when I put in my two week notice for what was supposedly my dream job, the place I would retire. I realized in the car on a road trip with my boyfriend at the time that I was being SILLY AGAIN! I was singing, I was light and airy.
It was a shocking reminder how a job can destroy most of our personalities without us even noticing. My chain had been lifted and that was all I needed to know I made the right choice (even though I had no other job lined up.)
I also find the polite thing fascinating because if she weren’t polite she may never have let the mouse help her realize she was not locked down!
Thanks Elizabeth. It’s always a good feeling when you realize you made an important right decision – glad you didn’t stay in the job
I loved this fairy tale! I just met with a veteran therapist last week & we discussed using metaphor to deal with emotional material. I think this story is great for people dealing with trauma or emotionally abusive childhoods. The right brain is the center of negative emotions but words are more left-brain. Using fantasy and images can also get at deep emotions in a safer way. I am going to use this story in my therapy in different ways. The first would be to use mental imagery to imagine how you might break free and where you would go, how you would feel. The second is to have the person write a story about the chains that are holding them back and what it would take to be free. Wonderful story for kids, teens, and can be adapted to adults. Thank you!
Thanks Melanie, glad you liked it. I love using metaphor and engaging right brain through creative techniques. You can also have people draw parts of the story or write their own ending.
Ooooo, Katie, just loved this tale of freedom and choices, and learning and finding authentic self and more! I may need to borrow this for a group in the future! Do more of this… we humans seem to LOVE life told in stories and metaphors! Thanks for this. A real gem.
Thanks Athena, More metaphors coming your way soon! They’re fun to write, and I love reading them from other people
Let me know how your group responds.
I love it! Fairies are one of my favorite magic creatures.
I love the metaphor also. Great post in all ways. Entertaining, engaging, and tells a good story. Have you considered even making it into a child’s book? I think it would be a great story. I’ll buy one! 
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Thanks Daria! Fairies are some of my favorite creatures also. I’d love to make it into a book, any ideas for how to do it? I’d need an illustrator…
Katie,
This is an adorable story and as I read it I really did feel lighter. Some of us have been holding on to our chains for so long, we’ve forgotten how to let go.
I’d really like to illustrate some of these scenes. I will start working on them as soon as I get home from work, and if you’d like send you the results.
By the way, I found your site today through Medicinal Marzipan and I have enjoyed every minute of it!
Hi Sheila,
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story and it made you feel lighter. I would love to see your illustrations.
Thanks again for the feedback, I really appreciate it!
Katie
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