I’ve decided to get a tattoo. A ‘subtle’ reminder for myself of my last attempt. Not that I think I’ll be forgetting it anytime soon. I guess it’s supposed to remind me that the worst is over.
I designed it myself. It is obviously a “tree of life” like image. Hidden in the negative space of the foliage is the word ‘forgiven’, and hidden in the roots is the date of my last attempt.
Here’s what it will look like
15 comments
If you don’t mind me asking, why won’t you be forgetting your attempt any time soon? how serious was it?
Pretty damn serious. Had I not been found I most certainly would have died. And I spent about a week in a psych ward afterwards. Now, nine months later, I am still required to go to see my shrink twice a week.
Suicide is certainly something unlike anything else. Are you glad you were found? Did you like the psych ward?
Very pretty artwork, I like it.
I have been wondering about getting a tattoo all day for the most bizarre reason: I have some bandaids on my arm (my bunny’s hutch has wire that catches me sometimes as I clean it out) and from my peripheral vision they look like a tattoo. So now I’m like, what would I put there?
I dunno. I think I’m too much of a chicken to get one though, so more power to you.
@ evnern- It most certainly is. Yes, I am very glad I was found. Every once in a while, I resent the person that found me, but that’s just when I’m feeling particularly depressed and bitter.
And yes, the psych ward was actually very nice. I was a bit out of it for the first couple days, but it’s an incredibly calming environment.
@ dashed- Thank you. 🙂
This will be the second tattoo I’ve gotten. The first, I got partially to cover up a scar I got when I was a child. What you said about made me think of that.
And I thought I might chicken out half way through my first one, but it really doesn’t hurt as much as some people seem to believe. Although, I have a ridiculously high tolerance for pain, so I may be a bad source of reference.
Hmm yeah I have a pretty low pain threshold I think. The place I am looking at is the inner side of my forearm too, I’m thinking that is probably more sensitive.
Oh well, can’t afford a tat right now anyway! lol
I’ve heard that area actually isn’t too painful (compared to other places). Although, it does bleed more than most areas. I bellieve the most painful places are where the bone is close to the surface. I’ll be getting this next one on my lower ribcage, so it will probably hurt a bit more than the first one I got, which is right below my collarbone.
And yeah, I’m currently an unemployed college-student-to-be, so money’s pretty tight for me too.. That’s basically the only thing holding me back from just getting it done tomorrow. 😛
Wow…
I love your artwork, truly. I like this piece of work, and the fact that it will be a tattoo. Also love how you worked in the date and “forgiven”, very nice. Tree of life.
Hope you stay strong and keep that as a reminder.
Good luck with getting it ASAP(since I’m assuming that’s what you want heh, darn money).
At cutting..yea really depends where you cut, and even if it’s painful doesn’t necessarily mean lots of blood and vice versa.
Amazing design. Although I find the hidden message a cool idea, maybe you shouldn’t get so attached to the event itself. Letting things go is the best way to live lightly. Perhaps just the tree, simply? Whatever you do, I do appreciate the art. For whatever reason I really enjoy contemplating trees, and love drawings just in one shade of black. Oh, I used to love the trees in Calvin & Hobbes… On the book covers and larger strips.
Wow. That’s a beautiful picture. I love how you incorporated the date of your last attempt and the word “forgiven” into it. That’s beautiful. I’m sure it’ll look great as a tattoo.
@WillTickin- Thanks. And yes, I would like to get it as soon as possible, so now I’m on the look-out for baby-sitting jobs (unfortunately, my only source of income :P)
@Qwerty- That is actually something I’ve thought about. I questioned whether or not I really wanted something literally branded into my skin as a constant reminder of the worst event in my life. The main reason I’ve decided to actually go through with it is to remind myself to stay strong. Basically, the tattoo will remind me, not of the desperate act, but of the eventual struggle to survive, and-dare I say it- recover.
Also, trees have always been a favorite subject of mine. I can’t think of a single concrete reason why, but trees, particularly drawings of trees, seem to hold so much metaphorical meaning, it’s ridiculous. (or maybe that just me :P)
@farmerstrong- Thanks. I wasn’t sure how easy it would be for other people to see the hidden messages. 😛
Ashley, that’s beautiful.
Thank you. 🙂
Ashley444, don’t lie, what do you have to lose when you are on a site like this.
You did not design it yourself. Please do a Google Image search on “Tree of life tattoo”.
Giving yourself false hope is just another reason to think of suicide.
~ Alexander
PS There is a reason that i am on this site to. So, yeah.
Alexander,
You are right. I did not create the original image. In fact, I believe my exact words for the google search were “tree of life tattoo”. My words were misleading, but not intentionally so. I took the image and made it my own.
But that does not mean I am giving myself false hope, simply because I did not create the original image.
I thought I had mentioned at some point that the original image was not my own creation, but now, after re-reading my post, I realize that I was mistaken. I apologize for that.