My Tattoo Story

Behind this tattoo is a set of burn scars I gave myself during my battle with depression.  Burning became my coping mechanism.  My "if you can take this, you can take anything" thought pattern.  So I would sit and burn stripes onto my wrist in hopes I would somehow develop the strength to make it through the night and tomorrow.  Whenever I got down or overwhelmed I'd light a candle, hold a razor over the flame, and press the metal against my skin.  The worst of those scars are behind this tattoo.

The symbol is the Wawa Aba.  It represents a person that has persevered through hard times.  It says this person is tough.

I am tough.

This tattoo is five years old now and fading, but it is still a reminder that I promised not to harm myself in the face of any sadness.  It's a reminder of where I've been and where I've been carried out of.