Topics Covered This Week
Things to think about before you get your body art.
They are beautiful, artistic, an investment and maybe a small act of rebellion.
You can have a tattoo for many different reasons, taking back power, and ownership of your body.
I give you just a few things to think about before you get inked.
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(00:00):
Hi, recording episode 19 on Monday the 21st of December, 2020, ready for broadcasting tomorrow.
And the subject I want to cover this week is, getting a tattoo, is it a cliche in midlife, or is it an essential part of midlife? I love tattoos. So that’ll give you a bit of a clue.
First of all, my little intro, a lot of YouTube issues and Google issues this week that have really focused people’s attention on the power of the internet and also the power of the big providers.
Facebook and Google are in court at the moment, I think in the US so there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. A lot of changes with regards to Brexit laws and things like that in the UK as well. And data changes in Europe. So there’s a lot going on behind the scenes, and I’ve not been able to upload a video for quite few days, almost a week on YouTube, which is owned by Google.
(00:58):
I’ve had a lot of issues on admin and things like that and it just makes you realise that if you are in online business, how much you rely on one place.
If you have all your eggs in one basket or your business with one client, you’re at risk, especially nowadays. So diversification and looking at different forums is really important, that’s been brought home this week.
I had the flu jab my arm is sore, but I’ve not got any symptoms yet. I haven’t had a COVID jab yet. I think I’m way down the list on priorities there, but I’ve had the flu jab because I am asthmatic. It’s something that they recommend every year. I thought this year, give it a go, I’m waiting for the flu symptoms to kick in, but they haven’t yet.
(01:44):
I found a new business idea and a possible income stream, purely from old skills.
We forget how much we know, and we forget how much we’ve actually forgotten in our lifetime as well.
When I left corporate, I rebelled against the corporate world. I didn’t want to get involved with the people I’d worked with before. I didn’t want to do corporate work. It was sort of an escape from all that. I didn’t want to do it, but then I’m recognising that, you know, 40 years experience, can’t be just wiped out.
I’ve got that knowledge there. I assume people also have that knowledge, but they don’t.
So I’ve found it another income stream that I might be pursuing, depending on, I’ve got somebody looking at some products at the moment for me, and it’s just falling back on that experience.
(02:33):
It’s all part of the journey, you might rebel against things you might decide ‘I’m never going to do that ever, ever again’ but then later on you realise actually it wasn’t the work that was the problem and my knowledge, isn’t the problem, my skills aren’t the problem.
So don’t be scared to look back and think actually I was okay at doing that. That was something I was quite skilled at because whatever your skills are, they are a gift to you. You might have worked really hard to achieve them as well. So make the most of them, don’t just put them aside.
Getting back to the topic of tattoos, and I want to give you some things to think about, if you are considering getting a tattoo or body art, I love it. Absolute tattoo addict. I really like it.
I think it’s a fantastic skill.
(03:23):
It’s creative, it’s artistic, and I love creativity and art. Obviously they’re beautiful, if you get the right ones, they’re permanent as well, unless you’re getting a henna one.
Make sure if you get a henna one that you do go to a proper Henna artist who knows what sort of inks to use so that they make sure that you’re safe, because henna can be damaging just the same as any other ink.
I will miss actually going over to the Souq in the middle East, where I used to have my henna tattoos by this lady, who immigrated from India to the middle East, she was an amazing artist. I’m going to really miss that. I will be finding one locally, hopefully, who can do me some henna art, if you know any in Yorkshire, let me know.
Then they’re very personal tattoos.
(04:11):
It’s something that when we talk to the tattoo artist, it sounds a bit silly when you say ‘my’ tattoo artist, but you build a relationship with the artist. I’ll come onto that.
They’ll become ‘your’ tattooist, they obviously, as most tattooists, have tattoos all over themselves and they practice on themselves and the friends, etc.
They don’t seem to have so much of a personal connection and a spiritual connection as other people do, as I do.
I believe that you should have them in line with your personality, your spirit, your chi, whatever you call it.
I do think they are something very personal to you. And that’s why I think midlife is a time when people do buy the sports car, the motorbike, whatever, but they do look at having a tattoo because they realise that actually it is a piece of art.
(05:04):
It is something beautiful and it enhances your spirituality or your skin.
Sometimes it can almost be the rebellious attitude. That you’ve not been confident enough in yourself and your body image. One of the reasons I had my, I think it was my second tattoo, maybe my first, but I was bullied as a child about freckles. It sounds really silly, but kids can be horrible and they bully people.
[note from Christie, I totally adore kids too!]
I never wore backless tops until literally I was tattooed on my back.
I took ownership of my back again by having that tattoo. So it can be very much a confidence thing. I see a lot of people where they have scars covered and it isn’t so much to cover the scar is to take ownership of the area that was scarred.
And there’s a podcast actually, which I’ll come on to at the end in recommended reading and listening about this issue, are you covering it up or are you declaring it as a piece of beauty?
So something to think about, if you have got a scar that maybe you’re self-conscious about would a tattoo be the solution to that self assurance around that scar?
Do your research, please, please, please.
Don’t go to the first tattooist that you find, pick a number off the board and say, I’d love a number 22 on me.
Please don’t do that. The artists don’t want you to do that, a tattoo artist and especially a skilful one, which is what you’re going to do. You’re going to find a skilful one is an artist. That’s why they called the tattoo artist.
(07:00):
So allow them some creativity.
Do lots of research, create an album, maybe in Pinterest or wherever, a scrapbook of some sort with all the pictures that you like.
There are plenty of tattoos out there to look at. Pinterest have a huge volume on that. It’s like a scrapbook. You can just look through that or you can Google images, whatever, but it might be that you’re artistic yourself. And you want some of your own art, but allow that artist to put their creative slant on it.
So go and talk to different people.
If you’ve seen people in the street with beautiful artwork, ask them where they’ve had that tattoo. Most people who’ve got tattoos are more than happy to discuss who did it, why they did it.
(07:49):
It’s something about the tattooed community, if you like, they’re usually quite approachable.
If you do see a beautiful piece of artwork in your local area, then ask them which artists did that. And it might be that it’s a studio with multiple artists in there, and you’ll build a relationship with that person and go in and talk to them,
Take images of what you like and what you don’t like. Whether you want colour, whether you want black.
Why, what style, do you want to retro tattoo, a minimal tattoo, a watermark, whatever, but go in and talk to the artist.
Payment.
It always makes me smile. When people say ‘how much did you pay for a tattoo?’
It’s forever, it’s there on your body for the rest of your life.
So think about how much you pay for a piece of jewellery, or a wedding ring, or pair of earrings or whatever, you pay in line with what it’s worth to you.
(08:52):
If you’re putting something on your body that will literally last you for the rest of your life, then that’s worth paying for.
And the artist, you are commissioning an artist to do a piece of work, to do it safely, to do it hygienically, and to do it creatively. And that is worth payment.
So if you can’t afford it yet, don’t cheapskate and go for something different. Save up for the piece of artwork that you like.
A lot of artists at the moment are obviously struggling globally with the lockdown we’re in December 2020 recording this. Quite a few artists have now got a voucher scheme where you can pay them now and build up vouchers. It’s helping them survive creatively and in their business. And it’s also helping you because it’s like an investment, like a payment plan. So look into that as well.
(09:47):
If you find a good artist, it might be that you can talk to them on Zoom or Skype or FaceTime or whatever, and build a relationship now ready for when they can do a tattoo.
If they aren’t able to do it in your area right now, think about where you’re going to put your tattoo.
Which part of your body is it going to go on? Is it going to cover a scar? I would suggest most tattooists for your first tattoos won’t do hands or faces. And I wouldn’t recommend face tattoos anyway. I like them in certain places, but it is something that I would definitely not recommend.
If a tattooist will just say, yeah, I’ll do it on your face, straight away for your first tattoo, and you’ve never met them before then I would walk out again. I don’t think that’s the one that you should be working with.
(10:33):
It might be that it’s a spiritual connection.
Some people have them on the heart, like the chest or the ribs because of an emotional connection.
I’ve heard of people having them on the back where it’s something that relates to their shadow and their personality that they want somebody covering the back. So think about whereabouts on your body you want it.
Do you want it to be able to be shown all the time?
If you’re in a career where appearances matter, and to be honest that’s most careers, think about the implications of it. It’s all right thinking, ‘Well, I’m not bothered. I’m just going to have it where I want.’
But if your career depends on what you look like, and you’ve got a tattoo, unfortunately, some people do still find them offensive. In some cultures they’re not seen as attractive or acceptable. Think about that because like I say, it’s there forever.
(11:28):
So think about where it’s going to go.
When you will see it, is it something that you want to see? Is it something that’s reassuring you spiritually or for therapy?
Do you need to physically touch that place each day to get reassurance? It might be if you’re having the name of somebody or a date connected to something, is it something that you want to be able to touch? So think about those.
The pain.
Does it hurt? No, not really. Some places do on your bone and things like that. I had one on my foot, and that twitched a nerve, that was hilarious because obviously you need to stay still for your tattoo, and there’s me twitching. Like when you’ve got your reflex points, that was quite funny.
I think, and this is a controversial point, women are superior to men with pain.
(12:21):
I think women take the pain a lot better than men. I’d like your opinion on that. See if you agree with me, but it can hurt.
It’s just the price you pay. If you get in the zone and manage your mindset and do some deep breathing, you’ll be fine.
Like I said, please don’t pick one off the shelf or off the wall. I’d love butterfly, number three, you know, don’t do that.
Be more creative than that.
You put in a piece of art on your body for the rest of your life. Enjoy the process, enjoy the commissioning of an artist who is skilful, invest in that piece, take your time and then enjoy the process of having the tattoo done, whatever it may be.
Okay. I would love you to, if you do get a tattoo while you’ve got some ideas, put it on Instagram or Pinterest and tag me and I will share it because I really want to see them (keep it clean.)
(13:15):
I don’t want any sleazy shots.
So why not think about it?
And if you have a tattoo, let me know what they are work is, tag the artist as well and give them credit that, okay.
Book recommendation.
The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo, how could I do any other book? Really?
When it’s talking about tattoos, I love this series. It’s by Steig Larsson.
He’s unfortunately not seeing the profits from his labors because he’s no longer with us. He died a few years ago and it is a lesson to everybody to get your will sorted out, which is in a previous episode. I’ll link to that previous episode about getting your legacy sorted because he died without a will, and his family had been arguing about the money ever since thing, but the dragon tattoo books are fantastic.
(14:10):
The original book was going to be called the woman who hates men. It’s a fantastic thriller, very, very graphic, really strong character, obviously a female character, the girl. And she has a dragon tattoo. It’s not for easy reading. These are serious, full on thrillers.
There are films based around them as well, but definitely read the books first because they’re amazing, really good books. I don’t think I’ve ever known anybody who’s read it and not enjoyed it. So let me know what you think on that as well.
And finally, it’s Christmas week. If you celebrate the season, have a fantastic Christmas.
It’s been a bit of a trauma this year, hasn’t it. There’s been a lot to content with, but there’s been a lot of bonuses as well.
A lot of goodness has come out and social media is really played its part.
So support yourselves and your family, stay happy.
Stay well, really treat yourself over the Christmas season and maybe start planning that tattoo for the new year to start 2021 in a creative mind.
All right. Thanks for joining me. Bye.