Let's talk about tats

via hemingwaycool

Tattoos are no longer reserved for sailors, bikers, and people who want to give a big "eff" you to authority, (were they ever? Who's to say) but that doesn't change the fact that people have strong opinions on the matter. Chances are, you either love 'em, or hate 'em. I have to admit that I am probably one of the only people who is rather ambivalent on the matter. I like some tattoos, I dislike others. I understand that people get tattoos for a wide variety of reasons and who am I to judge? I myself have tattoos and don't think of them as a big deal. I have them now but if ever in my life I wish to cover them up, change them, hell even get rid of them, I can. I don't have a particularly profound reason for why I got my tattoos or even why I like my tattoos in general. The best answer I can come up with as to why I got them and like them is this: I know that I am going to change over the years and I know that that's okay.

For example, I know I will never be the same girl who wandered into the tattoo parlor on that Saturday morning, still a little hung over from a night in college and decided to get a quote from one of her favorite books, The Little Prince, tattooed on her right side. The discreet placement of the words felt like she was keeping her own little secret from the rest of the world. Even now, when my physical appearance and demeanor has to adapt to the situation I find myself in, I smile at that little piece of me that stays the same.

I also know that I will not always be the same woman who tattooed her aunt's signature on the inside of her left ankle in a moment of solidarity with the rest of the women in her family - a strong acknowledgement to someone we loved who is no longer with us but continues to inspire us.

I know that I will not always be the same restless soul that wants the word "balance" written in morse code tattooed on my body as a comfort when I am teetering on the edge of one extreme or another.

My tattoos don't define me or limit me. I don't take them too seriously, as I don't take any part of myself too seriously. I don't wish to make a statement with them, for they are far too personal and I am far too introverted to allow that. For me, they're not sexualized, or to be used as an "accessory," as again, I did them solely for myself. I still truly believe that being vulnerable is one of the best and worst things in life and not having a tattoo that says basically that would not change my opinion on the matter. I would remember by aunt regardless of her initials on my body and I would still strive for balance in my life regardless of the word there on my skin. I am who I am despite the presence or absence of ink on my skin.

via nowandthan

via aCupofJo

via wit&delight

via wit&delight

Last but not least, no one can pull off this look quite like her: via crushcudesac

Hunting and fishing

As I was curled up on the couch reading my new purchase, The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, I was vaguely aware that at one point, John was reading over my shoulder. He muttered variations of, "How can she be so stupid?" and got frustrated with Jane's lack of ambition to be the protagonist in her own life. This got me thinking about the female voice. Though Hunting and Fishing is a work of fiction, author Melissa Bank captures what it's like to be a young woman coming of age in today's society. But what does that mean exactly? Bank's voice is undeniably real and honest, yet I'm not sure I like what it says. Maybe it's because it hits too close to home? Her character Jane finds herself in a job with a boss who undermines her intelligence and Jane finds herself regressing, instead of evolving. She finds herself in romantic relationships where she has become a caregiver instead of a partner. Jane falls victim to certain idioms that society dictates, despite how uncomfortable it makes her feel. It's hard to find a strong female protagonist, it is. But that's because in order for her voice to remain real, it must be plagued with the doubt we all feel, the second guessing we all do, the lack of confidence we all feel. In order to experience the empowerment of a female character in modern literature, we must first feel it in ourselves.

It's definitely worth the read. Bank writes with precision and truth, something that is harder to come by than it should be.

"You might be locked into a world not of your own making, but you still have a claim on how it is shaped. You still have responsibilities." 

                          - Barack Obama, Dreams From My Father

Insightful

 via hemingwaycool 

Some might say that I'm introspective to a fault, so it's no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed reading Barack Obama's memoir, Dreams From My Father. My boyfriend recommended that I read it and I honestly couldn't put it down. To dispel all contrived notions, this book is not about pushing political jargon down your throat or about a secret liberal agenda. This is a book about accepting where you come from and how that influences where you find your place in this world. I found so much to relate to in this book and I still find myself going back to passages that I marked, reading over his well-crafted words and thinking that they could be my own. I in no way want to belittle or discredit Mr. Obama's struggle - I can certainly not imagine how hard it was to grow up with your feet in two separate worlds, each of them seeming to try to tear you apart at the middle. But I do believe that when he speaks about the "fluid state of identity - the leaps through time, the collision of cultures" we can all relate. His vulnerability and perception is something that any writer can admire and any reader can find enticing. On a side note -- Imagine reading this book when it was first published in 1995? Thinking to yourself, "This guy is an amazing writer, I hope he writes another book." And then he runs for president?

Happy reading.