My Tattoos and Why They Mean so Much to Me

I got my first tattoo when I was 18. I went with some of my friends and I didn't need to think hard about what I wanted. I got a small treble clef behind my left ear. For my first tattoo this was the most obvious thing for me to get. Music is the most stable thing in my life. Everything was constantly changing and I was getting really good at handling change but when I needed to be brought down to reality music is always there.  I was in choir for 13 years during school and I'm not sure I could have gotten through some days without it. I can't see my tattoo because it is behind my ear but every time someone points it out or talks about music I think about it and how much music has impacted my life.

I got my second tattoo only a few weeks after I got my first one. My second tattoo I had planned out for two years before I could get it done. The design of it had transformed in various different ways over the two years until I had designed the perfect one for me. The tattoo is lyrics from my favorite song from one of my favorite bands. The song is "Sanctuary" by Paradise Fears. The lyrics say "Even Broken Wings Can Fly Away" and next to the lyrics I have the bands logo that they call the "warrior heart." These lyrics are my favorite from the song and have always stuck out to me. To me the lyrics mean that no matter what happens to me I will always be okay, and that even though I've been through difficult times I can still follow my dreams and goals. Whenever I am struggling with ambition or change I look at my tattoo and remember that I can do whatever I put my mind to.

My third tattoo I got as a message to myself that no matter what other people say being myself will always be more rewarding than hiding just to fit societies standards and that there will always be people who love me regardless of what I do, who I love or how I identify myself. The tattoo is lyrics from Walk the Moon's song "Different Colors", the lyrics say "we carry each other" and are written in the lead singer, Nick Petricca's, hand writing. The song was originally written as a fight song for the LGBTQ+ society but the song was released as a single the same time congress declared that gay marriage is legal in all 50 states and the song turned into an anthem. The song first came out on Walk the Moon's, Talking is Hard, CD around the same time I was first questioning my gender and sexuality and I latched myself onto the song. It was the only song I listened to for month's straight. When I came to terms with my sexuality my roommate at the time knew how much the song meant to me and came up with the idea for the tattoo. Everyday I look down at my collar bone and see those words written out and remember that I am truly not alone.

My most recent tattoo I got on December 12, 2015. I remember the exact date because I got the roman numerals for the date December 6, 2015 tattooed right underneath my "we carry each other" tattoo. That date is significant to me because that is the day I came out as bisexual and gender fluid not only to my friends and family but to the world. This was such a huge step for me. I had basically came out to everyone all at one time and there was no going back, but once I did I felt instantly relieved like the biggest weight had been lifted off of me. I no longer have to hide behind a wall pretending to be someone I'm not. Everyday I get to look at the date that I took that huge step that has changed me and my life. 

I adore all of my tattoos and their stories, I always sit anxiously for someone to ask me about them so I can talk about them. I'm looking forward to getting more because tattoos are one of the best ways to express yourself while leaving a piece of your history on you as a remembrance.