I will apologise right now as this blog might not be as cohesive as I would like, because in truth I am not sure 100% the point I am trying to make. So just take this blog as a nice little story if you can’t take any kind of message from it.
So some people may know I have one tattoo as pictured below,
Now I got this when I was just out of university well the summer I finished 2009. It means determination and is on the back of my neck.
Most people don’t even realise it is there, which was part of my intention this tattoo is just for me because after university I was really low and needed something to remind me (Even if I can’t see it!) So when my cousin, who I will point out is the same age as my dad so he’s a responsible (Kinda) adult, went to get a tattoo and asked if I would like to too, I jumped at the chance.
You see I have wanted a tattoo since my early teens, my dad doesn’t like them at all and that has always been in the back of my mind so I wanted to wait until I was a lot older.
So when my cousin offered I figured what the heck, I already knew what I wanted and so a little over an hour later I had my completed tattoo.
So here’s where I am stood there having just had the tattoo done and immediately call my dad, not sure what to expect, yes he was the FIRST person I called. I know he’s always pretty open minded and is very much so on the side of I will make my own decisions and learn from my own mistakes so my conversation was very much so “I know you don’t like them but I got a tattoo, but it’s in a discreet place and it’s only small”
My dad’s response was just that it was my decision I would have to live with it and it wasn’t his choice to make.
I have to be honest I was expecting him to be even a little mad even though I was 21 I thought he would maybe give me a little bit of a lecture but nope.
From there on in I didn’t really feel bad about it and I’m thankful my dad didn’t get mad, because this was my decision and if he had got mad I think it would have also tainted the day I got the tattoo and attach that memory to it. Instead I got my dad being reasonable and saying it was my decision, leaving it open to me if I had made the right decision for me.
I can safely say that I did, to me it seems like just when I am feeling down or lost, especially in the current economic climate struggling to find a job I like, it’s like I remember what is on the back of my neck and what I wanted to remember, that I need to keep going and things will change.
It’s a reminder that I was once in a worse position which made me get this tattoo.
It’s just a memory, it marks a milestone in my life, not just getting the tattoo and having left university but also realising that my dad although he drives me crazy is a good guy and will let me be myself and grow and always has done (As my mum has done too don’t get me wrong) and also if they ever read this blog I will never live it down haha.
So there it is, the only messages I think I can say there are in that little ramble is:
- Don’t give up/be determined.
- Don’t hide things from people you may be surprised by how well they react, give them that chance to surprise you.
- Don’t rush into things, I had wanted this tattoo for almost 7 years before I got it done.
- Be thankful for people who will support you even if you do something they don’t necessarily like.
Ramble over. x
