smiley cloud :)

I got my first tattoo today!

I think most of us grow up associating clouds with negativity. Even the phrase “every cloud has a silver lining” implies the only saving grace is the silver lining itself. Often, a “perfect” weather day is considered to be one without a single cloud in sight.

But, who wants to aim for perfection? I always prefer to see clouds in my view anyway. Big, fluffy things that sometimes travel faster than you can run to keep up with. They make dream-like shapes and patterns, decorations in the sky. In sunsets, they glow gorgeous pink or orange. When they rain, it’s a blessing – glorious water pouring down like poetry, making you clean. A gift for the snails, who come out to play, and for those who don’t require perfection to dance outside and love this planet wholeheartedly.

Clouds are beautiful, complicated, changing. They exist together, a community – it’s rare to see an isolated cloud. Clouds don’t deserve the negative associations we’ve placed on them. Clouds, despite their unpredictability, are always smiling down on us. My friends have called me sunshine in their love for me, but I’ve compared myself to the clouds, or at least felt like I had clouds in my head. But sunlight often is accompanied by clouds, and that isn’t such a bad thing after all, is it?

Doodles of smiling clouds struck me. So as a notorious overthinker, who watched her friends get tattoos 6 years ago and said, “I’m not so sure” – and has never been sure since until now – I finally committed to a tattoo today.

A tattoo studio in Thailand - like anywhere in Thailand – makes you laugh, and makes you feel safe. There’s no better place to get over your overthinking nature, and to have your love of clouds inked into your skin for good. The manager laughs, “not virgin anymore!” while filming your tattoo reveal, and sends you and your girlfriend home with elephant charms and mango sticky rice. When you tip them for the service, they look at you like you’ve made their whole day… and they go and get you more mango sticky rice.

My little, happy cloud is small and simple – and to me, it’s perfect. My permanent reminder of this magical city and country, and also that… I’m enough as I am.

thank you Warp Tattoo Chiang Mai 💜