The archer represents an Amazon warrior. In mythology, Amazonian women would remove a breast in order to be better archers. And I absolutely feel like a warrior after these past almost 16 months since I was diagnosed. And that has been my approach from the very beginning. Fight like hell. No matter what happens, no regrets. No second guessing.
And the wording - My Body Is Not My Soul - is for both me and one of the women I love most in this world, my friend Erin. Losing my breasts taught me that we are not the sum of our parts. Our bodies are just skin cars we are driving around while we are bound by this mortal coil. They get dented, battered and bruised. But that has nothing to do with who you really are. Erin was born into a body that wasn’t the right one for her. And thankfully, we live during a time in history when she can do something about that. She is one of the most beautiful and true women I have ever known. And she was right beside me while I got this tattoo - holding my hand and letting me squeeze the absolute shit out of hers when it hurt. I love you, Erin.
Tattoo by Nina at The Laughing Buddha, Seattle, WA
beautiful story and tattoo
