I decided a long time ago that I would never get a tattoo.

It didn’t appeal to me, I didn’t have a high pain tolerance, and the commitment of it being on me “forever” was scary.

Then one day, when I was 20 and struggling with massive amounts of self-doubt, my friend texted me a line from a Shakespeare play:

“And though she be but little, she is fierce.”

I read it over and over again. It was the background on my phone for about a year. I read the play. I even went to go see it performed with that same friend!

It became my motto.

“I’m fierce, goddamnit!” I would whisper to myself before facing my next obstacle.
“I might be tiny, but I’ve got a fighting spirit!” I would reassure myself through tears and clenched teeth.

Finally, I decided that I needed this tattooed on me. I waited another 6 months before I actually did it, because I needed to be positive that I wanted to do it.

The day came, and I laid down on the table, exposed my side, and was relieved that it didn’t hurt nearly as bad as I was expecting.

^Me getting tattooed across my ribcage.

Afterwards, everyone told me, “Oh, once you get one tattoo you’ll be addicted! Trust me, it won’t be your last one!”

Well, it’s 5 years later and I don’t have any other tattoos!

Yet…