Photo: Sincerely Media
Tattoos have become increasingly popular in the past few decades, running the gamut from artistic expression to commemoration of life events big and small. Inspired by this recent Cup of Jo post (a beautiful and short read), here’s a collection of Grief Collective follower stories about tattoos they’ve gotten to honor someone they’ve lost. Thank you to those of you who submitted your stories.
Next up: community advice if you’re considering a grief- or loss-related tattoo.
This tattoo on my forearm is the coordinates of our favorite bookstore. The wall outside of it, that I’m standing in front of here, has saying painted in a typewriter font. One says “I walked in expecting to fall in love with the books, not the person I walked in with” and “I know who I’m going to marry someday.” We spend a lot of time here, became “official” here, said I love you for the first time here and I proposed to her in front of this wall (5 years ago today). It became more than a bookstore to us and now, it’s a place I go and feel comfort like we are together on a date all over again. The stars around it are from the Harry Potter books and the coordinates are done in typewriter font. People always look at me a bit funny when I say it’s to a bookstore when they ask about the coordinates, but it’s so special to me. - Katie
It says “the colors of the after.” It’s a metaphor. The life after my dad died has other colors because grief changes you. Sometimes it is full of grays and sometimes it is full of all the happy colors. My dad is on the gray ones but also in the happy ones, because he is everywhere. He was 57 when he died in 2021 and I was 23. - Noe, @noeliabp19
Mason is my only child. We had been talking about getting our first tattoos together for some time. When he was killed in a car accident at 20 years old in April 2019, I knew that I would follow through to honor him. My first, done just a few months later, simply states the reality of my feelings with his wings holding my broken heart. Mason believed in the magic a dreamcatcher holds. My second tattoo showcases that magic with an image of his eye looking over my life, knowing that he walks with me forever. - Melissa
I lost my dad in 2018. I had this tattoo in remembrance of the last time he told me he loved me. - Sarah
My dad’s passion was canal boating. He fulfilled his dream and ended up owning a custom made one that he and my mum spent months of the year on traveling the UK via the waterways. I spent many a day (and night) joining them on some of their adventures and have so many precious memories of the boat with him. I got one of the traditional hand painted roses that was on his boat tattooed on me. - Helen
I got [a tattoo] on my late boyfriend’s birthday weekend after he passed of his birth month flower. A morning glory. Single line, dainty and perfect. So happy I did it! Also the same spot he had one. September is the month. It’s under my left arm on my rib cage so it’s close to my heart too. - Bergie