I got my first tattoo almost a year ago. A tiny, cute little sun-and-wave combo that called to mind my love of watching the sunrise and sunset at the ocean. At the time, I was sure that would be my one and only. I never had an issue with tattooing in general, and I’ve always admired some of the beautiful tattoos I’ve seen on other people, but it never appealed to me. 

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Michelle’s first tattoo.

When I hit big racing milestones many years ago (first marathon, first Boston, and the like), I briefly thought about commemorating them in ink—I mean, the BAA unicorn is practically tailor-made for it—but for some reason, I never followed through with that expression of my running achievements.

Whenever I did briefly consider the idea of getting inked, the thought of it being permanent always gave me pause. What image could I possibly want on my body forever? But the past few years, during which both my parents and a dear friend passed away; I crossed into the over-50 age group; and my oldest child turned 18, have led me to the realization that forever is actually pretty fleeting. Obviously I want to like whatever I decide to have inked into my skin, but at the same time, I’m not going to obsess over it. 

I have chosen my tattoo designs thoughtfully, though, and looking for potential images is actually a big part of the fun. After the sun/waves, I got a honeysuckle on my right arm—a reminder of my mom, who adored the scent of the honeysuckle bushes that grew in our backyard and who showed us how the nectar did indeed taste like honey. Next was potato flower blossoms on my left arm, for my Dad, who grew up on a potato farm in Maine—a farm we visited every summer when I was a kid. I love having those memories of them, and I love sharing the meaning of those designs. 

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The sweet honeysuckle tattoo Michelle chose as a permanent reminder of her mom.

Most recently, I felt like I wanted something that just looked cool and made me happy. That’s how I ended up with my owl, which I am in love with. What I’m really in love with, though, is the idea that I’ve got these unique little pieces of art that I literally walk around displaying every day. They’re a visible outward expression of who I am. And although I still am and always will be a runner, of all the designs I have in mind, not a single one is running-related. 

Yes, I’m a runner, but I’m so much more than that, too. I don’t regret that running was such a huge part of my identity for so long, yet I’m also glad that it’s not anymore. It’s allowed me to see a little bit more of who I am, and who I want to be. It’s given me the freedom—and the mental and emotional space, plus the time—to explore and find other things that bring joy to my life and a smile to my face. I’m cooking up a storm; I’ve discovered a talent for booking and marketing author events, which I do for my local bookstore; and I’ve found this wonderfully fun way to explore and express my personality—wearing my heart on my sleeve/arm, so to speak.

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Michelle with her current tattoos. We can’t wait to see what she chooses next.

I have thoughts for a 5th, 6th, and 7th tattoo, and I’m sure I’ll come up with more ideas after those images. I have to pace myself, though, because the cost adds up quickly, especially since the designs I’ve chosen have gotten increasingly larger and more detailed with each successive tattoo (next up is something with color!). 

And the whole “it’ll be there forever” aspect? That’s kind of my favorite part about tattoos now. There aren’t a lot of things that last forever, so I’m happy to have this beautiful wearable art that will. 

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