Etched in Ink, Defined by Character

My Lovelies 😘❤️,

Isabelle here! Please receive a big and warm “Welcome” or “Welcome Back” from Athena and I to another post here at PawzandProse.blog. Thank you for being here with us and for making our blog your blog of choice. We are ecstatic to have you here and to know that you are hanging out with us for a little bit this week to read about this week’s topic. It’s going to be a good one, so hold on tight… you’re in for a crazy ride!

I think this discussion, my loves, will touch the hearts and minds of many… for sure! Whether you are for them, against them, or indifferent to them, I believe tattoos and the tattoo journey have a lot to teach not only the one getting inked but also those around them. As a new walking canvas for this type of art, I can tell you it’s been a moment of learning and reflection. It’s also been a moment of learning more about myself and learning to love myself more than I probably ever have in my 30-something years of life. I know, I know, you’re confused and wondering where all this is leading to, right? Well, let’s get right to the point then, shall we?

In order to share my ink story properly, I must share the stories of how two of my pieces came to be. I started 2024 with a total of “0” tattoos on my body, and today, October of 2024, I am now the proud canvas of 4 tattoos (one on my right ankle, one on my left wrist, one on my right forearm, and one my back) … all dainty, but all very much there. Now, this journey began when I lost my husband. As I’ve said in the past, my husband left me very valuable lessons, especially when it came to my faith, the first one being to always believe. Whenever I found myself having a tough time, or whenever I was stressed/scared over a particular life situation, he would always sweetly say to me, “Chiquitita (shorty), why are you worried? We have God, and you have me… believe!” After starting this unexpected journey of life alone, again, I knew that this lesson had imprinted itself deeply in my heart and soul, thanks to him. I knew I had to immortalize that on my skin, and I decided to get that word tattooed permanently on my ankle. It was my very first inked piece, followed shortly after by another loving lesson he taught me from God’s word, it’s a bible verse, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. When we were dating, I was about to start my first job out of the family business of tax preparation and car insurance sales, and I was nervous. He always carried with him a necklace that I coveted because of how beautiful and special it was. The necklace has one of Christ’s nails accompanying a dog tag that has his crown of thorns and this particular verse engraved in it. On that date, he placed it around my neck and gave it to me and told me to always remember that he and God were with me and to know that I could do all things in Christ who strengthens me. I believed this was another life lesson that I needed engraved on my skin to pull through all this craziness that was being thrown at me. So, what did I do? I ended up getting P. IV: XIII tattooed on my forearm.

Now, what does this long and seemingly useless tangent mean to this discussion? ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, My Loves, because I, like many, had been wanting and admiring tattoos for a while but had not gotten any because of what others out there might say. How the world might judge… starting with my immediate family. I know many of us in this new generation have had to deal with the misunderstanding and stigma that exists with doing something “out of the ordinary,” or “unusual,” or “not accepted” by society. Family many times being the first ones out on the sidelines to make us feel “less than” for our choices. Now, mix this notion of “stigma” and “what with others think” with unacceptance, finger-pointing, and being a person of faith, and you have a WONDERFUL concoction for “stay-the-hell-where-you-are-and-don’t-move-a-muscle-because-you-can-never-be-yourself”-itis.

It was not until I got inked myself that I began to truly reflect on something innately important about this situation, and that is that my ink has changed NOTHING about who I am. Yes, my pieces are on the dainty/smaller side, but even if I had a sleeve or had other larger pieces covering me, the fact is that… still NOTHING would’ve changed about me. I remain the same: hard-working, family-loving, god-fearing daughter, widow, niece, etc., that I’ve always been. It also makes me reflect on how easy it is for us humans at times to judge “books” by their “covers” without diving deeply into what is truly contained in their pages. No, just because I have ink on me does not mean that I suddenly now have an affinity/desire to become a “hoodlum” rolling the streets and meddling with the “bad” crowds (to be honest, had I wanted to and had that been my life path I would’ve done it at a much younger age, with or without tattoos… I’ve just never wanted to go against the law. Plain and simple). No, because I have ink does not mean I’ve given up on being a woman of faith (my unbreakable commitment to God for my sake as well as for the sake of my babe’s memory would never let me anyway). So, it just makes me think, where do these ideas come from? Yes, we look different, black/gray & color ink is going to look different from virgin skin (*Ahem* insert sarcasm here Ahem), and to be honest, if you don’t like them… that’s totally fine by me... It’s easy to look away as I pass by.

My point with this discussion, as cliché as I may sound on this blog and my posts, is again, My Loves, let’s get to KNOW PEOPLE before we judge. With me, people who are quick to judge may look at me as a little “hoodlum” without knowing that my tattoos all have deep spiritual meaning. All have lessons taught by a love that was taken too soon from me. That all the ink I have is what keeps me going in his memory as well. If someone stopped for a second and took the time to get to know me, they would know I’m no different than anyone with virgin skin. I have a 9:00-5:00 job, I have dreams and aspirations, I feel, I cry, I laugh, I get sick, I stress just like everyone else. So why would I ever let what others think about my ink define me? I won’t, and I hope that this post will also inspire you to be yourself and not let anything about your exterior (be it piercings or tattoos or anything else for that matter) define you in the world. All we need to do to show people who we are is to keep doing good to others and leaving our special print on the world. It’s the remnants of that that will remain forever when we no longer walk amongst the rest on this planet. Not our ink, our labret studs, or anything else of that sort. It’s the love, memories, help, and kindness we spread that will be eternal. Not our physical being. Let’s remember that before we judge others or let others judge us by things they don’t understand. Be yourself my loves… the world will adjust … no need for you to do so.

Until the next one my Loves,

XOXO Isabelle 😘❤️ XOXO