My tattoos make me feel loved.

My first tattoo was my grandfather’s initials and I got it a week after I turned 18. He passed away when I was 10 years old, but he had such a strong presence in my life and I’m constantly reminded of that when I look at my arm. My second tattoo was John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”. That was my friend Dylan’s favorite Bible verse and I got it tattooed on my ribs after he passed away. My third tattoo was a Mac Miller verse “no matter where life takes me find me with a smile” I got it after he passed away, as his music got me through some hard times in my life. My fourth tattoo was an airplane for my aunt Gail. She was my best friend in the entire world and she was a flight attendant for 43 years. I was afraid of flying for so long, but when she passed away and I got this tattoo, I knew she’d be protecting me and make me feel safe. My fifth tattoo was the lion. I got that one purely for myself. I experienced major trauma in college, and the lion reminds me that I am a survivor and I am fierce and strong. My tattoos help me express myself and feel love.