oh, sweet tattoo

On Thursday evening, I finally got my first tattoo. :)

I've been wanting one since my freshman year of college, but since my parents were/are so opposed to the idea (ie. threatened to cut me off financially if I got one), I held off. But damnit, I'm an adult now (although I assume it hardly looks that way, what with me living with and working for my parents...), so I sacked up and tatted up.

My tattoo artist, Lane, was fantastic. Admittedly, I was a little afraid he thought I was a total lame-o, but throughout the entire ordeal he was funny and really nice. My friend Kelsey tagged along for support and to take pictures. I'm so thankful she came, too, because she ended up being the one to pick the finals colors! Yay for sweet, creative friends! :)




For the record, tattoos hurt a lot more than people let on. Or at least tattoos on one's wrist. I had heard over the years that the pain is mostly "uncomfortable" and "annoying" than actually painful, but I'd say that's only true 60% of the time. The other 40%? Hurt like a bitch. I didn't even think about what a vulnerable area the wrist is, what with all the veins, tendons and bone. There were certain spots where I could tell Lane was having to go over and over and over because they were difficult to ink, and those were always the spots that were the tenderest. Ouchhhhhh. In the end, it was so worth the discomfort, but I'm definitely not looking forward to going back next week for touch-ups.

Oh, and no, I didn't cry. Props.




I chose the word dig from the Incubus lyric, if I turn into another, dig me up from under what is covering the better part of me. I wanted a reminder to always look for and bring out the good in others, even when it's not easy. Dig is about how we all fall to our human weakness, but we have each other to bring out the best in us. I know I personally need that so much from the relationships in my life, need my friends to remind me of the person I really am under it all, and I aim to do that for the people in my life as well.

It's so easy to get caught up in my own problems, my own stupid worries, that I forget to make the world a better place in my own small way. I wanted this tattoo as a visual cue to stop focusing on myself and dig up the good all around me.

I kind of can't believe I actually did it, but already I'm so glad that I did.