Ink: Beyond Pen and Paper
by Ashley Sepanski

Image courtesy of Terlaba

I’ve always been mystified by tattoos. The permanence, the colors, the designs, the needles, and especially the back-stories have captured my attention for years. It’s the willingness of people to make a permanent impact on their own bodies for such amazing and powerful causes that really moves me. It’s a process that has changed my views on beauty, expression, self-discovery and healing. Tattoos, although often considered taboo, have the potential to bring peace and happiness in ways no other act can. To me, that’s pretty cool.

Now on the opposite side of the spectrum, I’ve had friends who have gone out and inked themselves up simply to celebrate being young and rebellious. Forgive me if I offend, but so many of my friends tattooed themselves (last names on backs for the guys and random stars on feet for girls) that I almost lost it. Is there a point to randomly branding yourself with a collection of meaningless stars or your own name? Regardless of personal preference and what is considered “cool,” I want to highlight some truly amazing works of art I’ve come across recently.

For starters, I met a mom the other day who tattooed a tree on her back. It was her 50th birthday gift to herself representing 20 years of sobriety and growth. The woman had fought through alcoholism, a nasty divorce and raised three boys on her own. She said the tree was a constant reminder of her ability to keep growing. Poetic right?

Another girl uses her body as a sort of list of her accomplishments. Each time she overcomes a struggle or achieves an important goal, she gets a tattoo. Some of her tattoos represent participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure walk, graduating college and starting her own business. Now this process of achieving and inking isn’t exactly my style, but for her, it’s a perfect fit.

Finally I’ve met several girls in my time who get tattoos for more therapeutic reasons. The list could go on and on for those who have remembered deceased loved ones with tattoos and I’ll admit it’s something I’ve even considered myself. My friend Sara whose mother died from cancer (similar to mine) has the most beautiful tattoo of purple angel wings on her right thigh. When I asked her about them, she looked at me with a cheesy smile and said, “Purple was her favorite color, and now she’s always at my side.”

Whatever the reason people choose to get tattoos (as long as there is a reason), I think the potential exists for them to be an incredibly healing and nurturing experience. The absolute permanent marking of a symbol or message onto a person’s body can only mean that the choice to do so is an incredible story. Maybe the next time you encounter someone with some interesting tattoos, ask the obvious question. Why? The answers could really leave quite an impression.

Ashley Sepanski, ink, Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure walk, Tatto