Worte, Parole, Mots, Verba

Dictionaries, spellbooks, novels, newspapers, advertisements; words are everywhere. Many individuals struggle with expressing themselves, as it is difficult deciding on which words to let loose from their lips. I am one such person; words simply do not come to me as quickly or transitionally as most people. Sometimes (and more often than not) I use hand gestures to attempt to communicate my point and to please the reciever of my "hand dialogue." However, I find it quite ironic, because, despite being shy and quiet, I am a singer, and have been in my school (and church choir when I was little) since pre-school. I suppose the beauty of words set to music to add a vocal element to the piece makes me light up with the greatest of awe. I also write, often and sometimes not enough; my best topic of choice, to converse about or actually perform.
However, sometimes I wonder if, maybe I were to become more outgoing and "entertaining," according to modern human standards of people who put their two cents into a conversation, I might finally be able to fit in and make aquaintances better, as I have difficulty with that immensely. But, I suppose you can't have your cake and eat it too, so I suppose I'll have the wonderful flowery language only in my writing and leave the short, simplicity of my Neanderthal speech to my spoken word. *Picture by 'SSilence on deviantArt*
~Life may not be a utopia, but look around you, it sure is beautiful sometimes.~

Life, Ink.

A shape, a symbol, a message, a memory, a loved one. Tattoos all have various meaning, some more so than others. I suppose there are certain people who find tattoos vulgar, against nature or against their religion, or even ugly, but there are also quite a few others that find an inked, permanent work to be full of meaning, a visual expression of art and rembrance. Usually they are significant of a loved one, loved pet, or a special event in the wearer's life, but often they are for fun, an 18th birthday occasion. My brother is one such recipient, as his tattoos are more for cosmetic appeal, rather than a deeper meaning, and I believe this may be because he got them on a whim, eager to "look cooler." He has a couple skulls and markings on his biceps and right forearm, but regrets his just-eighteen-and-ready-to-get-inked mentality, and now says he wants to get them covered with grander, more elaborate tattoos. So I suppose critics of tattoos might say that to have something permanently etched into your skin (as a choice) may not always be beneficial to the "human canvas" we sometimes think we are. Often, a person might decide they no longer enjoy the tattoo, or it was a stupid decision, or they get drunk and get an "I heart Mom" tattoo, in a most inappropriate place, or even find that as they get older, the tattoo they found awesome a few years ago now isn't suited for the workplace, or something to that effect.
But yet the thing that intrigues so many to the art of tattooing is the beauty of having a story illustrated on one's body; a beautiful, picturesque view of their life, a dragon taking off into the sky, a mermaid splashing in a lagoon, brightly colored flowers surrounding a cross, always honoring.