If you’re going to care what people think, you need to stop writing your blog right now. -Erin Guerrieri
The downside to writing a blog on positivity and being yourself is that sometimes people throw it back in your face. The upside is that I need it thrown back in my face.
I have never wanted a tattoo, but I have never had a rightful reason to get one before now. After Ironman France, I found one. France is the country that saved me from my eating disorder years ago and taught me how to live. I then fell in love with the French language and everything French; every word of French empowers me in my quest for self knowledge and understanding. To me, France is freedom.
Two years ago my world was torn into pieces by a life changing experience, and, in response, I began to run. I used to hate to run, but I needed to run to prove my inner strength to myself. And so I ran. Then, over time, after I completed my first marathon, a lifetime athletic goal of completing an Ironman became a reality, and so I signed up for Ironman France 2011.
The Ironman forged courage in me I had never knew I could possess, and moreover, it was in France, a full 360 degree journey for my life story. All the reason to get tattoo to commemorate it with a constant outward reminder of my most inward triumphs and beliefs.
We all need an honest friend to tell us the truth. We all need our core beliefs thrown back in our faces when we are not properly embodying them. For me, I now get a daily physical reminder of my core in the JOIE. M.DOT. VIVRE on my hip; they are my power words — my creed and my drive — to live (vivre) life with an embodiment of joy (joie) and the possibilities of life (as in the Ironman) are limitless.
We all need power words in our lives, whether or not you tattoo them onto yourself is up to you. These power words compliment our identity and give us strength when we are most vulnerable to the world around us, so choose yours today.