They're No Longer Secrets
Yesterday was Friday the 13th. Which apparently means tattoo shops run $13 tattoo specials. Unbeknownst to me, it's a thing as commonly known, accepted, and looked forward to as 7-11's free slurpee day on July 11th. I think it's hilarious. I think it's weird. And I love it. Although I don't have any tattoos (nor do I want any) I sincerely appreciate the sentimentality, creativity, and dedication tied to tattoos. Tattoos have become the base similarity between strangers that forms a community. A community of the type of people who are happy to sit out on a sidewalk, waiting in line for hours, for a $13 piece of body art, playing cards, having a drink, and swapping stories... These are people whose sories have such meaning, such memory, that they want to permenantly display symbolism of them on their bodies. These are people willing to endure some pain for the sake of art. People willing to tell the whole world a piece of who they are and what they've been through without saying a word. These are brave, open, expressive people. Think about it. You sit across the bus aisle from a woman... She has the name 'Jonah' tattooed beneath her collarbone. She has a pair of scissors and a bobby pin tattooed on her right wrist. And she has a semicolon tattooed on her left ring finger. She's letting you know details of her personal life, without ever having spoken to her, without even knowing her name or having any interaction whatsoever with her. Does she have a son named Jonah? Perhaps an ex lover. She's a seamstress, hairstylist, or perhaps a designer? She's struggled with a mental health issue or perhaps even thought about suicide. And you knew all this in just a single look. Because of her tattoos. Her "secrets" are on full display, they are no longer secrets. For me...? No way. I'm not that open and willing for people to simply know things about me just because they looked at me. No way, no huh. No tattoos for me.
I have a lot of respect for people willing, eager, happy to to use their skin as a canvas to the likes, loves, hurts, ambitions, and experiences of their life. I think it's crazy. I think it's incredibly bold. And I think it's beautiful. I'm a little late to the game, guys, but happy Friday the 13th; I hope you're pleased with your new ink and that it isn't too sore this morning.
