I’m about the only person I know without a tattoo.

Well, this is not true. My parents don’t have tattoos, and I don’t think most of their friends do, although I’ve not done a close inspection. That would be hard to do, and probably not very polite.

But among people my age and younger, I’ve become something of an oddity, yet I can honestly say I’ve never considered getting one. This isn’t because I have anything against tattoos. I’ve seen some that were beautiful. But I’ve also seen some that read “Forever Young” or “No Regrets,” and I wonder if this will always be the case.

And that’s the problem.

I don’t think I’ve ever been sure enough of anything to ink it on myself permanently. I remember having a conversation with a man who had a lot of tattoos, and I expressed this concern.

“How do you know you’ll always think that way and want that on your arm?” I asked.

“Oh, I probably won’t!” he answered cheerfully. “But that’s not the point. The tattoo is a reminder of where I’ve been, not necessarily where I’m going.”

This made sense to me but didn’t solve the problem. I’ve gone through a lot of changes in my life, and I have a lot to say. I’m afraid I’d run out of available space in a hurry.

What if there was no writing space left and I still had years to go? I’d have to write very small to make sure I had room for major life events. Since I have no idea how big each event will be — or how many of them I will have — this seems challenging.

And I honestly don’t mind not having a tattoo. I figure they are like every other kind of fashion and will come and go. If I manage to live long enough, not having tattoos will probably be cool, allowing me to be a very cool nonagenarian. I have that to look forward to.

Instead, when I am in Mexico I go to a fellow who makes bracelets. He weaves them by hand and ties them onto my wrist. He will write anything I want (provided it is not too long) in the colors I choose. I imagine I would have had a tattoo reminding me of these same things if I were not so cowardly.

I had one bracelet made that said, “Act as if.”

I was trying to remember to behave as if I was already the person I wished to be, not always waiting around for “someday.” When the bracelet did not seem to be doing the trick, I had another one made in a different color, and one more after that. Eventually I was wearing three bracelets. I have to say, I have been doing a much better job of living in the moment of late, although I’m not sure I can give the bracelets all the credit.

But bracelets are not tattoos and when they eventually got shabby I cut them off. Now I am back to a wrist without slogans, and that might be for the best.

Because once a reminder is with me long enough, it stops reminding me, and I suspect it would be the same with a tattoo. If I can’t rely on a bracelet for instructions, I don’t think a tattoo would help, either.

Instead, I take a long walk every day, and at some point I am reminded that I am a very lucky person. And I start acting as if I am. With or without tattoos.

Till next time,

Carrie

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