Tattoos

I’ve got two, one on my left arm and the other on my back just over my right shoulder. I decided to get my first tattoo after my breakup with my live-in mate. I was 31 and I was feeling down, low, miserable and felt like I wanted to do something daring, unexpected. I was tired of playing it safe, of being the “good” girl. I always felt a tattoo was a sign of a rebellious person. When I was young you only saw men with tattoos, they were in the military or spent time in prison. You rarely saw women with tattoos and if you did, they were hard, loose women.

So I decided on a small tattoo of the number 8. I study numerology and my lifecycle number is eight (add the year you were born, plus the month, plus the day; add all the numbers together to get a single digit. 1+9+6+2+9+8=35; 3+5=8). The number eight means power and sacrifice, I felt I had sacrificed enough. It was time for me to get comfortable in my power. My second tattoo is “Kay2”. My daughter and I decided to get matching tattoos for Christmas. It sounds real ghetto, but it’s something we will always share. It was her idea and her first tattoo. She said it symbolized we will always have each other’s back. (Cue the music!)

I guess you are saying, what’s your point? My point is ladies should be careful when getting tattoos. Ladies, be mindful of the placement, what it is, and the message you convey with your tattoo. One, please don’t get a man’s name tattooed on your body. Boo will probably move on before the tat heals. Two, don’t get a tat on your tit. They will not stay perky forever. That red rose will look like a hanging vine by the time your 35. Three, please don’t get a "tramp stamp", and catch an attitude when someone “holla” at you. What I’m saying is a tat is permanent, and the way you are thinking at 20 will surely change at 40. Think about your future husband, in-laws, children and grandchildren. Think about your future CEO position and how you will be perceived with a bible scripture on your neck! As Aretha Franklin sang, “I ain’t no psychiatrist, I ain’t no doctor with degrees…. You better think.” Think long and hard about that tattoo.

Peace & Love