Tattooed in Thailand

Sorry mom. I got my third tattoo.

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I knew a bunch of people were either going to ask or at least wonder why I got this tattoo. So here is my story!

A few years back, I started doing yoga and really loved the peace that it brought me. I loved that it slowed me down enough to really focus on what was important. For me, I have always used yoga as a time to appreciate God and what an amazing body he has given me. One that can hold poses, stretch in ways that seem impossible until the end of class, and most importantly one that carries me from place to place.

While practicing yoga, I learned about some symbols originating in Southeast Asia. The lotus is a flower that grows in the murkiest places. For those of you that do not know, a lotus can normally be found in a swamp or mucky water. But it is a gorgeous flower. One with huge beautiful petals and vibrant colors. Lotuses represent growing places that aren’t beautiful or wouldn’t be expected. For me, especially in my walk with God, I saw that there was this need to grow places I was uncomfortable.

I realized that so often I am waiting to go on to the next place. I start planning how I will benefit from leaving where I am at. But God used the lotus to show me that while I am uncomfortable He has big plans for me. I don’t need to be somewhere else for God to show me His kingdom. I need to be growing where I am planted.

The top and bottom of the tattoo are what is called an unalome. It is also a symbol that spoke to me. While unalomes are Buddhist symbols, I felt the spiritual connection to them for my relationship with God. They represent the twists and turns of life and how they end up in the same place regardless where those turns lead. I felt like the symbol was so easy to see God in. The twists and turns of life are so minimal compared to Gods overarching plans. I think we get so caught up on the little things that we get distracted from the end goal.

All of those thoughts had been roaming around in my mind for a few years, when we decided to go to Thailand. I knew that something I always wanted to be able to do was to see God in other cultures. To see how He has left His mark on people that don’t look or act like us. So I knew I wanted to get these symbols put on my in a country that they originated in. I knew that it would mean a lot more getting these symbols on me if they were tattooed somewhere that the people recognized the symbols.

So there you have it everybody. Your girl got tattooed. It was a safe tattoo parlor - just so no one is worried. We did research and didn’t mess around with any place without certifications. If you have any questions, let me know and I’d love to talk to you about it!

Also it is pretty dang pretty.

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