A few weeks ago, I got my tattoo finished.

The tattoo is based on the “Who I Am” print by Britchida. The print made me gasp when I first saw it on their Instagram and was what got me to sign up for their Patreon so I could get the print.

When I found Haylo (my tattoo artist), I said I wanted a tattoo on my inside forearm based on the print, but with even more color. She was on board and got going on it. However, before Haylo started, she warned me that in her experience, people never regret going “too big” on a tattoo, but plenty of people wish their tattoo had been bigger. Taking up the inside of my entire right forearm already felt massive so I just had her start.

But as I’ve had the completed tattoo the last few weeks, I understand what she means now. Because the longer I have the tattoo, the more I wish it was bigger.

Why? Well… the compliments and awe of people seeing it definitely help. The specialization Haylo has with watercolor tattoos to make it literally look like it was painted on my arm is incredible. But I think the concept of “Who I Am” as a person is becoming more expansive and colorful and so I want my tattoo to be more expansive and colorful to represent that. (So don’t worry… we’ve talked about expanding it into a fuller sleeve once I save up more money.)

Haylo and I also talked about the different words that could have labeled the box instead. Like… maybe have the box labeled, “What I wanted” and the piece titled, “What I received.” Or have the box labeled, “The life I planned” and the piece be titled simply, “My life.” Because life is truly proving to be such much more expansive, colorful, and beautiful than I originally thought. So much meaning for me in this tattoo.

But moral of the story… I love Britchida’s piece. I love the beautiful work Haylo did and want more of it. And I hope we can all expand out of the boxes of who we are supposed to be and become the most expansive and beautiful version of who we truly are and live the best and most colorful lives possible for ourselves.