On tattoo stigma

Unfairly judged: People with tattoos can be nice, too

Chanced upon this piece of article on The Pride. I seldom have the urge to voice an opinion publicly on an issue, but somehow I felt the article missed an angle of why the stigma exists.

A fair piece of writing representing people who chose clear-mindedly to have tattoos.
I guess the stigma on professions dealing with minors, stems from the possible lack of maturity and the permanence of tattoos. Most of the interviewees have clear (and sound) reasons for their tattoos. For a minor, it is probably more important to instill to them the permanence of the decision to get inked (for the right reasons no less). Look for a teenager with a "Belieber" tattoo in 20 years later, I'm sure they wouldn't be proudly flaunting it.
Personally, tell me about the pain and the time to get a decent looking ink and I'm out of the room. But that's just me.

"Danny & Annie" from StoryCorps

One of the first StoryCorps videos I stumbled upon when I started browsing after coming across their 9/11 series to capture a video for each life lost in the episode. After so many years and even though the story is still vivid in my mind, I couldn't help but tear up at the sound of Danny's voice narrating Annie's choice, "I walk in alone with you, I walking out with you alone."

As much as Danny sounded like a grumpy old man when you first hear him, but as the conversation goes on, you feel the love that quietly emits. The core of their love was nothing luxurious, just the confidence of companionship. Danny and Annie were fortunate to find their lifetime companion, that even in death could not do them part. Their love lives on.

For I am self

Somehow this has always been the place I run to whenever I needed an outlet. When my supposed confidante fails me and becomes my source of dilemma.

Since becoming a wife and daughter-in-law, then a mother, there have been many times I had to juggle my relationships. Trying to give each one a supposed ranking and priority, which honestly isn't fair to anyone. How do you judge if your parents should take priority over your in-laws? Or your husband over your daddy? Each situation warps the usual decision matrix. A sick husband, a possibly contagious niece that should be kept apart from your own little one, with a daddy dearest looking forward to spending his birthday with his forever lil girls. Trust that the husband will be able to take care of himself and handle the lil one, risking the possibility of being label an irresponsible wife and mother? Or disappoint the man that slough his youth providing for his lil girls sacrificing his chance during younger days to enjoy life's pleasures, and be labeled an unfilial daughter? Sure either choice could not end in as drastic of an outcome, but the personal struggle to have to pick a choice still hurts. In the end the in between choice always ends up disappointing all parties. Everyone had to make a compromise. Nobody gets their wished outcome.

While I may self-console that I am strong I can handle relationship dilemmas. My family and friends are understanding and can see my predicament and meet halfway in their expectations. It is a personal failure on my part to be unable to reach their expectations.

I am no Wonder Woman, although I wish I am. I am daughter. I am wife. I am mother. And most importantly I am self, that I have no issues prioritizing. For if there is no self, there is nothing else.

Worn out

Relationships are such delicate existence. They arise from coincidence to planned creations. When they exist, they can be strong that no tornado of doubt or discord could question it. But once it starts to break down, there seems to be no road for return.

When it's all well, everyone takes it for granted. That is also what makes it ironically vulnerable. Like a team carrying a load, one by one conveniently "relieves" themselves of the duty of sharing the load, with the confidence the others will help carry theirs. Instead of voicing out early and amicably, the ones left bearing the load and grudge without understanding why the others had to relieve their duties. The ones who left takes for granted their load is well handled and doesn't make the effort for their speedy returns. While the ones carrying the load eventually burst into angst and hatred, when in the first place their overloaded bodies were not made aware to their teammates.

Then everything breaks down. Tension eruptions. The load is split but with it added the burden of hurt emotions.

Harsh exchanges are made. Relationships held by no more than a over-stretched band. There but useless. In fact more of an eyesore. Yet no one can just throw it out. It's just worn out.

Learning from the pack

https://www.facebook.com/proactivecoach/photos/a.185031104840362.48443.115821191761354/1093053237371473/?type=3

The sensibility of wildlife sometimes far exceeds that of us humans. We can fool ourselves by saying their actions are beyond our comprehension, but it's probably just a convenient excuse for our lack of selflessness and regard for the bigger picture. Each to fulfil a given responsibility bestowed on the basis of capability or (in the unfortunate case of the unavoidable sacrifices) lack thereof to minimize losses.

We call ourselves highly developed and advanced beings, yet we lack these sound reasoning abilities. That's why I support saving wildlife over humans if given a choice. Unless it can be clear that humans can be untainted in their decision matrix, they are just not worth the attention. Let's hope the younger generation are worth our attention.