If I've learned anything from life thus far, especially from being a musician, it's that sometimes we just need to take the time to pause, breathe, reflect on our surroundings and issues, and then continue on. This process is something that should be continuous in order to keep our sanity. I believe that when you take a moment to reflect you should look towards the simple little things in life, because it is those things that can make you appreciate your life and make you the most happy. I'd like to say that I have my (shit) together, but some days I just feel like a hot mess. As a music student, I have struggled not to over work myself during the day. I'm the type of person to always be on the go, to always be involved with several things. Even though I love what I do, just thinking ahead to all the performances and rehearsals even in the next month I have, makes my head spin. I have to constantly remind myself that I need to slow things down, breathe, and give time to myself so that I don't stress and end up having a freakout.
I got my tattoo at the end of my first semester of college. For me it was the right time because it signified all the hard work I had put in thus far. It signified how much I had grown not only as a musician in the past several months, but as a person. No, I didn't do it to be rebellious, to make my parents angry, to get attention, or to feel more "artsy." And I'm not encouraging you to go out and get a tattoo. I actually find a lot of tattoos to be very unattractive (I'm more of a small tattoo girl but that's just me.) Having a tattoo is a very personal thing, it should be something you really want to have and something that you put a lot of meaning to. I designed my tattoo in 10th grade when I became sure music was something I wanted to do with my life. It was also the year that I really realized what hard work was going to follow and had begun to feel the real stress of what it would take to be successful. When I designed the tattoo, I wanted it to have a real purpose in my life. As I'm still searching for my own purpose in life, this tattoo represents certainty, a message that will always apply to my life.
I wanted simplicity in my tattoo, so I decided to use four music symbols to portray the deeper meaning I sought for. Railroad tracks, a comma, a music note, and a repeat sign - meaning: pause, breathe, play, repeat.
It's been almost three months that I've had my tattoo now, and I'm still in love with it. It is a constant reminder for me to take a breather from dwelling on things that will only further stress me out and to take a moment to step back from the chaos of the day. I look at it and smile. This little piece of artwork that is mine, and will be the most meaningful only to myself; yet, it's message something I can spread. So I ask all of you, pause from your hectic day, breathe and be calm, then go on with your day with a fresh mind - and do it all again.
