Saturday, I began the process of getting my most symbolic, as well as my largest, tattoo to date. Johnny, at Queen Of Hearts Tattoo in Nashville, TN has designed the most beautiful image of a phoenix I've ever seen. Per request from me, she has a banner in her mouth with the word REVOLUTION printed on it. This tattoo, number twelve in my still-growing collection, covers my left arm from shoulder to elbow. The line work alone took roughly four hours. This tattoo is a huge symbol of how far I've come, of re-creating myself, of survival, rebirth, and of the inner beauty I hope to achieve. It's been a long road. I was diagnosed with a chemical imbalance at the tender age of eleven. I found out roughly a month and a half ago that this was an incorrect, or, at best, misinformed, diagnosis- I will be twenty-one in two months. I have been living with an inaccurate diagnosis for nearly a decade. I have been on more medications than I can count, or remember. Had I not married my husband, Cris, and returned to TN when he came home from a deployment, I may very well have never learned of this misdiagnosis. I have been off of medication for nearly seven weeks now, and am feeling better than ever, and finally beginning to feel in control of my own life. My parents have mixed feelings on the subject, but my husband is more supportive than I ever could have dreamed anyone could be. I am increasingly happy and proud of myself. This tattoo is a symbol of independence, of hope, of growth... And a true reminder of the strength from within, as well as the support from the man that loves me.
No comments:
Post a Comment