The Story Behind The Ink

I always thought couples who got matching tattoos were dumb.
Why? Because if they ever broke up (which, let's be honest here, is more common than not these days), then they'd have these matching tattoos to stare at for the rest of their lives.
And getting the name of your significant other tatted on you?
Oh lordy, don't even get me started.
I mean...we all know how this ended.

Point made.

Anyway.

Somehow, this past weekend, I blurted out to The Dizzle:

"Hey, we should get tattoos while we're here in Thailand! What do you think?"

So he pondered it for a few hours, with the occasional nudge from me thrown in, and at last,
he agreed to said tattoos.

I suggested that the tattoos should be:

a) Meaningful to both of us, individually, because IF we're ever not together, we've still got to like the tattoo and know that it's still meaningful to us.

None of this "VERNER + MICHELLE = LOVE 4EVR. WORLD TRAVELS 2013. XOXO" nonsense.

b) Written in Thai because obviously, we love Thailand and it looks way cooler than English

c) Be tripled checked by 3 different Thais so that what we think the tattoo says doesn't actually say,

"Donkeys and children play in green pastures until midnight." 

Don't ask why that's the first thing that just came to me. I have no idea.

Point is: It had to say what we wanted, so translation was key.

After a few hours of contemplation, we both agreed that a Buddhist quote seemed fitting.
We're not religious people, but we do tend to agree a lot with the Buddhist teachings and values.
Especially recently, being in Thailand and learning/reading more about it, it just seems like great morals to live by.

Verner has been reading, "The Art of Happiness," by the Dalai Lama and thought of this quote he read from it that sat well with him:

"The purpose of life is to be happy."

How very simple and true that is.

Not only is that something that we are aspring to live by each day, but also, it reminds me that that's all we're ever trying to do as individuals.
No matter who you are, what background you have, who you know, where you live - - aren't we all just trying to be happy?
And who am I to judge what your happiness means to you?
Sometimes I forget that and am quick to judge someone's actions if they don't jive well with what I'd do in my own life.
But then I remember that we're all on our own "journeys," if you will, and to each his own, right?

Anyway, that quote stuck.

We got it translated. We confirmed with 3 different Thais that it actually said what we wanted it to.
Then we got to inking!

I should also point out that this tattoo "shop" was in the back of a bike rental store.
Did we think to find a different one? Nope.
Such dare devils we are.
But, hey, 3 days later - - no infection! Hooray!

After only 20 minutes each - voila! Done and done.
I'm very pleased and happy with them!
It was a great experience and one that I'm glad we got to do together.

Though... some could argue that these tattoos are not as cool as the one's we got in Vietnam...
I'm on the fence about that. ;)

Happy Monday!

xoxo