"Cool Tattoo! What Does It Mean?"

A question I hardly get asked but I want to talk about anyway.

I have two tattoos – one on my left wrist and another on my right wrist. Despite these pieces of artwork being on direct display to the world, I don't really get asked about them. To make up for all the times nobody asked me what they mean, and to fulfill my selfish desires, I'm going to write about them here.

I was strongly forbidden from getting a tattoo by my dad and mom when I was in high school. A classic parent move, right? I always wanted one but I never knew what I wanted so I decided I wouldn't get one just for the sake of teenage rebellion. When the moment came I'd find the right tattoo, the right artist and just do the damn thing. So I did just that.

Tattoo #1 – Inked in April 2017 @ West 4 Tattoo (Manhatten, NYC)

"Fingers Crossed? But what does it mean Kelsey?" Why thank you for asking! If someone asks (which they usually don't) I always respond with this question: Do you believe in fate?

Most people believe in fate, or they at least want to believe in fate, and to keep it short & sweet, I don't believe in it. I believe in chance and luck and I often say fingers crossed as a result of this. Instead of me trying to fumble and mumble my way through describing what my tattoo means, here's a poem that perfectly describes it:

“you said. if it is meant to be. fate will bring us back together. for a second i wonder if you are really that naive. if you really believe fate works like that. as if it lives in the sky staring down at us. as if it has five fingers and spends its time placing us like pieces of chess. as if it is not the choices we make. who taught you that. tell me. who convinced you. you’ve been given a heart and a mind that isn’t yours to use. that your actions do not define what will become of you. i want to scream and shout it’s us you fool. we’re the only ones that can bring us back together. but instead i sit quietly. smiling softly through quivering lips thinking. isn’t it such a tragic thing. when you can see it so clearly but the other person doesn’t.” - Rupi Kaur, Milk and Honey

I highlighted the part of this poem that gives me the chills every time I read it, and the part that perfectly describes why I believe in luck and chance. Without these two factors I don't think I would have experienced as many wonderful things as I have at such a young age.

Note: The only part of this poem that I don't necessarily agree with is the idea that it's a "tragic thing" for someone to believe in fate. To each there own.

Tattoo #2 – Inked in January 2018 @ Nice Tattoo Parlor (Brooklyn, NYC)

Good luck, thumbs up! – I knew I needed another tattoo on my right wrist to compliment and balance my "fingers crossed" tat on my left wrist. Although there isn't much of a story for this one, it's just as important! It represents positivity and enthusiasm, two things that I need to remind myself to practice. I wanted to stick to the hand theme and I give a (hitchhickers) "thumbs up" just as often as I say and give a "fingers crossed". So alas, tattoo #2.

This part is mostly for my parents: I don't plan on getting a third one any time soon. To everyone else, thank you for entertaining me and letting me talk about my tattoos :-)