Submitted by Katie:
I got the tattoo when I was going through a series of events I ended up losing a large number of those who were close to me. I got to a point where I was absolutely miserable and couldn’t find a good reason to wake up in the morning. I work in dorms and during my hard times some of my residents who I’d helped quite a bit throughout the year saw through my “I’m fine”’s and would come to me and would talk to me about all the different ways I’d helped them. In the midst of everything piling up it just reminded me that despite whatever BS I’ve gone through if I’m still able to wake up in the morning and help make someone else’s life better then my own will always have meaning. (The little flurries you see around the text are from a dandelion that’s on my back.)
IF I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
- Emily Dickinson, Not In Vain
I got the tattoo when I was going through a series of events I ended up losing a large number of those who were close to me. I got to a point where I was absolutely miserable and couldn’t find a good reason to wake up in the morning. I work in dorms and during my hard times some of my residents who I’d helped quite a bit throughout the year saw through my “I’m fine”’s and would come to me and would talk to me about all the different ways I’d helped them. In the midst of everything piling up it just reminded me that despite whatever BS I’ve gone through if I’m still able to wake up in the morning and help make someone else’s life better then my own will always have meaning. (The little flurries you see around the text are from a dandelion that’s on my back.)
IF I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
- Emily Dickinson, Not In Vain
I found this kick ass website, Contrariwise It's a collection of literary tattoos I adore the Harriet the Spy image- one of my favorite childhood books and inspirations
I love this - I would love to be brave enough to get a tattoo - my Mr has many - I always thought if I got one it would be something profound but I have always loved this quote from The Great Gatsby - it's a little left of centre - like me!
" I've been drunk for about a week now, and I thought it might sober me up to sit in a library."
F.Scott Fitgeralds - The Great Gatsby
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I like your dandelion tat, very cool.
Katy that is awesome!! I love that quote. You should do it :)
moon that's not my tattoo- i do have one (two, actually) but that's another post. these are all from the blog i mention at the end of the post.
Wonderful! Nice illustrations...
and how funny is it that I just posted one of the same sayings that you posted, as one of my favorite quotes... I just don't know who wrote it!
Just came across your blog - thanks for the comment on mine - and was delighted to be greeted by a quote from WB Yeats - love that poem! Look forward to reading more.... :)
Very, very cool.
maggie...
poetry, spiritual wrestling matches, light, lassoing feelings into succinct portable treasures...
if these aren't a few of my favorite things, i don't know what are.
once again, thanks.
love them all. I so want to get a new tattoo...this has inspired me again!
Good stuff...
Great photos. Thanks for sharing your story. I think many of us have 'been there' at one time or another.
:-)
love them all....
Love the site; thanks for posting. I appreciate tattoos that are beautiful, and even more so the ones whose meaning and purpose is beautiful, too. I have one tattoo that I drew myself, but if I get another I think it will be words of some sort.
I've been reading your blog regularly - sorry for doing so in a non-responsive way, but just want to say I love your thoughts and your courage and creativity in expressing them.
Hi Maggie, this is such a great blog! I'm following you from now on. Keep up the good work! ;)
I may finally have found some inspiration for my #2 tat. Thanks for sharing! Yours is beautiful.
I'm so excited to go to that website! All of these tattoos are awesome... if I were to get one I'd totally go this route.
Thank you for the find! That is a great site!
Very cool Tats. I have one on my lower back, thinking of getting my girls names on me.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I just spent waaay too long on that site--love it! And now I want another tattoo.
But I won't.
My fave tattoo is my daughter's name on the inside of my wrist, written in an old typewriter font. :)
what a nice reminder to do good for others to fill a need of existence; and what great body art!
I have to tell you I let out an audible squeeeeee when I saw Harriet....my hero!
Peace - Rene
I loved this!
A Harriet the Spy tattoo! I also loved loved loved Harriet the Spy.
Do you have any tattoos? I can't remember if you had mentioned it before.
Oh wait. I just read the comments!
yep, i love this website
THOSE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL! I love that.
LOVED Harriet the Spy when I was a kid -- for months after I read it, I carried this little notebook around and wrote down the (really boring) things people said and did.
am just loving this post, Hx
wow these are amazing.
{I do remember your story ...I think of it and you often ;)}
Oh I love all of them! I must see that website now.
you're in my head again.
i'm planning my next tattoo. just figured it out..now saving for it. (since it's not a necessity, it's a save extra dollars here and there kind of purchase.)
i'm so excited, though. makes me want more and more and more.
I love these tattoos. For a split second I thought that you had all of them...
Thanks for visiting my blog!
I love the Dickinson and Dylan Thomas tattoos. Actually, I love them all. This post has made me think about what I would want if I were to get a tattoo. I do think I'd want a quote rather than just a picture but what would it be? Poetry? A bit of prose? And what do I want it to say about myself and who I am.
I love this post. It's one of the most thought-provoking pieces I've read in a while. Then again, your blog has that effect on me.
I love your tat... it's beautiful. And you are right... the (good) effect we have on others makes everything worth it.
So, the first picture is your tattoo? Sometimes I'm just dense.
I'd def. have done this if people were getting them when I was in my 20s-30s. I must think about what I'd have had tattooed on my skin.
I love literary tattoos. You have to feel pretty strongly about whatever you're willing to ink to you forever. Unless you're able to afford a $1000 a square inch for laser removal.
Maggie,
I'm not a huge fan of tattoos, but I love these! Emily Dickinson is one of my favorite writers ever and it's lovely that you have a tattoo of her poetry.
I love the tattoo pictures from that website! Especially the ones written in courier, I just love that font!
xoxo,
Micaela
P.S. Thanks for your sweet comment on my guest blog post!
You have the most interesting and touching posts!
I've always been so commitment-shy, so I have never gotten a tattoo. But now that I've committed to baby and man, perhaps it's time to reconsider! I still feel very commitment-shy. Tattoos are permanent, yo! It scares the shit out of me. But maybe I just need to really stand up and commit to my life, thoughts, and mantras. Then maybe it wouldn't be so scary to me.
This is terrific! I'll check out the website. Thank you.
i love this post, i love all the pics here! love tattoos!
Harriet the Spy! i loved these. what a great post...
Harriet The Spy? Are you kidding me?! I will not EVER dust off the love I have for that girl. Everything I loved about notebooks as a kid, I loved because of her. Still do.
Thanks for dropping by my blog, MM! I'm cobbling a post together for tomorrow and fighting the temptation to go what the shit! and spend the next hour here just reading yours. I'll be back. Believe it.
I have often fantasize about getting a tattoo...but then the long lines of clean skin will call me back and subdue me.
But....wouldn't THIS be brilliant to wear always?:
"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”
You know...Jack Kerouac...because the quote itself is astounding and TRUE.
<3 sarasophia
I want a Harriet the Spy tattoo! That's so awesome.
i'm off to get my second text tattoo this weekend! cannot wait!
my first one says "let go", my next one will say "be here now"-- not a contradiction, but a way to live in peace
This is great. I have no intentions of getting a tattoo myself, but am always fascinated by what others choose. These are very unique. I, too, love the "Harriet the Spy" illustration. My daughter and I are just listening to it on audio book for the umpteenth time. Happy New year!
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