I got my first tattoo two years ago to celebrate receiving my
Masters in Counseling. It was a big
deal, both the degree and the tattoo. I
have wanted a tattoo for at least 20 years, but resisted out of fear of what
others think; honestly, the idea of the needle was scary, too. My friend Corie, my partner in crime, and the
Thelma to my Louise, went with me that first time, holding my hand both
literally and figuratively.
It’s true that once you get a tat you want more. I fantasize about all of the tattoos I want
and where I want them. This new one is
probably my last for a while, though. My
daughter Harper wants us to get mother daughter tattoos when she turns 18. We’ll see how she feels in 5 years, but I
would be honored to do that with my girl.
My Instagram feed is full of photos from tattoo artists I
follow. I’m drawn to animals, books,
teacups, anything literary, and words. I’m a word person. My first tattoo is the word Ardently over a
pink bow. It’s from a Pride and
Prejudice quote where Darcy says to Elizabeth, “Please allow me to tell you how
ardently I admire and love you.” It
makes me swoon every time I read it. The
definition of ardently is devoted, passionate, with fervor and enthusiasm, a
pretty good way to live, if you ask me.
My second tattoo also had to be literary. When deciding on a tattoo you want to be sure
you will love it when you are 90. My
love for literature is eternal. No
worries there. This time around I chose
the words Wild and Precious, with a bow, because we all know my love for bows
is also eternal. The words are taken
from the Mary Oliver poem The Summer Day.
The last line is “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild
and precious life?”
Wild and precious.
Both And. The forest grows both poison ivy and sweet fern, the plant
which heals the poison ivy rash. Both And.
One of my clients recently told me she lives in the forest, the both
and. I try to live my life in that place,
the forest, the both and: acknowledging both the good and bad in myself and all
of us, the beauty and the awful. It’s so
easy to see life as black and white, and truthfully, I struggle with black and
white thinking, especially about myself.
Rigid thinking, however, prevents us from living in the mystery, the
grey, the forest. Wild and precious
reminds me that my life is at once untamed, absurd, rowdy, foolish, AND
beloved, darling, dear, and treasured.
Additionally, my work as a therapist is essentially asking
my clients to tell me about their wild and precious life and then holding space
for all of that wildness and all of that preciousness. It’s meaningful work.
Corie and I went together and both got tattoos this
time. She chose Come What May from
Moulin Rouge, a gorgeous musical film, starring the gorgeous Ewan
MacGregor. Her tattoo stories are hers
to tell. I’m glad she is part of my story. She held my hand again, distracted me, and
made me laugh.
I think it’s
official: I’m a bad ass. Ha ha! I’m a tattooed,
bow wearing fashionista, hoping to live a wild and precious life. With thanks to Mary Oliver and Thelma, I mean
Corie.
Affectionately,
Rebecca
