After several years of getting tattoos, I finally made a list on my iPhone of all the tattoos I currently have, because quite frankly, I'm exhausted from awkwardly counting them anytime someone inquires about these timeless art pieces on my skin, simply because the quantity is constantly changing. Just this year alone, I've added 1...2...3...4...5 to the collection, 6 if you're counting the one I covered up a couple months after getting it (which I'll get into later). Never in a million years did I think I'd have as many as I do, but I do and definitely intend on getting more. Quantity control for whaaat?!?
The backstory of how this whole journey began is simple: I've always loved tattoos...more specifically, I've always loved them on women. I wrote this really dope blog post some time ago about tattoos and femininity that will likely resurface on this blog later on. It dove into my passion for the art form itself and how - contrary to popular belief - it's possible for femininity to not be lost once a woman has chosen to cover her body in art. Thinking about where I am now with my work is what inspired me to start this blog post; because as much as image/physical appearance shouldn't matter, it's the first thing people notice and point out, so I'm officially a "tattooed woman" now. It's what prompts conversations, both welcomed and unsolicited, in spaces occupied by strangers and friends alike. And no matter how widespread tattoos have become in this day and age, it's always at least one person who still believes visible tattoos will stop someone from getting a job.
AANNTT...WRONG!!!
...but I always politely keep my sarcastic rebuttal to myself, because at the end of the day, it's my body and I do what I want with it.
Speaking of being (j)ust (o)ver (b)roke, allow me to take a moment to address that: what if that's not even on my radar? I think the most frustrating thing about that argument is assuming that's the path all of us are on. Even if the assumption is valid, I've never had an issue landing a job in a competitive market. Having tattoos I could easily hide use to be a concern of mine, but as I got older that shit became less and less important to me. Granted, I'm not walking around with ridiculous face tats and an obnoxious name tattoo in block letter font wrapped around my neck, but still...that's never been my personal experience...and I've been working since I was 16. For the most part, I can still cover mine up if I so choose to.
My mindset literally went from 'damn...I need this job' to 'damn...now I have no choice BUT to make my dreams happen', which essentially pushed me out of survival mode into something much greater than that. Now here I am, a tech enthusiast/freelance web designer running her own business with #HellaTattoos and the potential to turn a small startup into a multi-million dollar empire one day and although I'm not quite there yet, a girl can dream, right?
I don't mind feeding into my obsession, simply because I know I'm creating my own lane. One day it just clicked that I am my own person with a mission to create my own lane/identity and not be forced to restrict myself to societal limitations; it's never been about trying to "being cool" or keep up with the trend of what's been deemed as millennial culture. I truly believe people who love tattoos and love being covered in tattoos has that same mindset, which I think is pretty dope. Quiet honestly, I'm deeply inspired by the pure rebellion of it all.
-Signing off as-
Chymere A. ♡
No comments
Post a Comment
Feel free to share your thoughts!