I went a little crazy and I like it! (Don't judge!)
So I went away scrapbooking this past weekend and the running joke with me friend Lynn that scraps with me is one of these days we're going to get tattoos! Well, this time she said it and I said "Let's do it!". So we DID! This is something I never would have done... but now I feel better about me, so I felt confident enough to do it!! Here's a link to a photo of it! Sorry it's a little bit of a fuzzy photo and the tape residue.
I got a dragonfly in memory of my Grandfather, who I lost last April. Part of me is very sad that he never got to see me months out from my RNY. He was very supportive of me. I miss him so. However now I carry a symbol of him with me everyday! Anyway, I read the story of the dragonfly at his burial. I will paste it below just in case you have not heard of it. It's one of the most beautiful stories I have ever heard.
The Dragonfly
Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads,
there lived a little water beetle in a community of water
beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond
with few disturbances and interruptions.
Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of
their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and
would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their
friend was dead, gone forever.
Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge
to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would
not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what
he had found at the top.
When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the
surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so
warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body
changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful
blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body
designed for flying.
So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole
new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never
known existed.
Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking
by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and
explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been
before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.
But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could
not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he
understood that their time would come, when they, too, would
know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off
into his joyous new life!
~Author Unknown~
Just like your RNY, that tattoo is important to you and you should be proud of it! I love the story that you posted along with the picture, it's a perfect representation of your journey.
I'm getting my third/fourth tattoos soon, Pearl Jam lyrics (you are who, who you are) in my grandfather's handwriting on the inside of my wrists. He passed away two years ago in June and the day I got my letter with my date for my surgery was the day of his funeral.
I love it Robyn, be proud, you've come a long way!!
"Running has the power to change your life. It will make you fitter, healthier, even happier." ~Selene Yeager, "Let's Get Started," May 2010 issue of Runner's World
and then you add the grandpa part!!! beautiful!!
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
I want to get another tatoo it would be my 3rd... I want something that represents my my weighloss journey but not sure what I want yet... will either be on my foot or back of my neck...
I'm will be getting my bellybutton pierced soon thats for sure :) need one more month of working out though...lol