Getting back into the swing of things after Christmas I found myself stretching for something to write about. Writing once a topic is found isn't as difficult as trying to come up with something like a column demands. It's actually quite hard to do and I struggle with it every week. Attempting to come up with something different, something people will want to read, and something I can actually write about.
Finally after starting about three different subjects I have decided to write about tattoos. I personally have three; my most recent one was done by Carroll Brownridge in Arcola. He did an amazing job and is quite an artist in my opinion.
Now, tattoos are slowly becoming a more prominent thing in society; but, are still frowned upon in certain professions and by quite a few people in general. This is of course fine as everyone has their own opinions; however, if the tattoo is tasteful then I don't see a problem with them at all. I can see tattoos being unprofessional if they are crude, which some can be; but, for the most part people who get tattoos have solid reasons for getting them.
A lot of thought went into all three of mine and though my first one, a maple leaf, doesn't have as much meaning as my other two I am still happy to have it. I am Canadian and I have pride in my country.
My other tattoos are for family members who have passed and to help me remember who I am and where I come from no matter where I end up. Obviously people don't always think everything through, it is something permanent and there are many people who get tattoos over those they already have or get tattoos removed.
My interactions with others who have tattoos though have been heavily on the side of completely thought out with much meaning as well. This, I think, is the norm for most people. They want something that means something to them as it will be with them forever.
Tattooing is actually a practice done by many around the world. Something I found on Pinterest awhile ago explained tattooing as "an odd and beautiful form of art; very interesting and more expressive of sentiment than any other thing." I am inclined to agree with this as an old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words."
Looking at a prairie lily with a butterfly, most would see just that. To me, however, these two simple things put together, that I carry with me, mean so much more. A few years ago was quite difficult as my aunt passed, my mom's good friend who my sister and I were also close to passed. They both loved bright flowers, so I started thinking about what I could do. I then decided on the prairie lily because it is Saskatchewan's floral emblem, my home no matter where life may take me.
The butterfly is for my Opa, he passed quite some time ago; but, my tattoos show I carry them all with me. The meaning behind it therefore is obviously a little more than just a flower and a colourful insect or a cliché tattoo for girls to get. I thought about the cliché for quite some time before deciding that I would go through with it.
Finally the tattoo Carroll did for me was of three stalks of wheat, one for my Mom, Dad, and sister. I grew up on a farm and our family has always been close, so when my parents sold the farm a couple of years ago I started thinking about a way to carry this with me. Carroll, being an amazing artist, created this artwork for me and that is exactly what tattoos are today, a piece of art.
The art of tattooing has been a practice done by many cultures across history. From pre-Christian Europeans to Egyptians to the Maori of New Zealand tattooing in some form can be found whether this means filling open wounds with ashes or pricking the skin to insert different dyes.
Over the years tattoos have taken on a different context. Years ago the majority of westerners with tattoos were seen as deviants because it was those who rejected social norms that would get them. This is probably why a number of people today still pair tattoos with bad seeds.
Today tattoos are much more main stream than they were years ago. Teachers, doctors, and any number professionals now get tattoos; they are not monopolized by criminals, rock stars, and bikers anymore, now "soccer moms" have them too. Tattooing is now fairly main stream with Mattel having released a Barbie in 2009 with removable tattoos and a limited edition Barbie in 2011 with permanent tattoos.
People now get tattoos for medical reasons instead of wearing a medical alert bracelet for example. They get them for cosmetic reasons such as enhancing eyebrows or covering blemishes as it is to resemble make-up. Some people have even tattooed their wedding bands on. Today people get tattoos for meaningful personal reasons whether memorial, religious, or an integral part of their life.
I read a quote on the internet the other day, which I really liked, that is credited to Johnny Depp "My body is my journal and my tattoos are my story." This I think perfectly sums up why so many people partake in tattooing now. This is a thought process that many have in today's society and why many now have tattoos.
