Posted on December 21, 2010 - by Justin Hartman
My Tattoo, what, where and why I did it
When I was 16 my father gave me a framed copy of the Rudyard Kipling poem titled “IF” which hung on my wall for the entire duration of my high-school career. This poem was very special to him and when I was 21 he read me the poem in his speech at my 21st birthday celebrations. The day before he died I wrote him a letter in which I quoted the poem in reference to him “finally being a Man” and I also had the privilege of reading my final letter to my father at his funeral. This poem is one that has a very deep and special meaning to me. Forever.
Couple this special meaning with the fact that I really do want to be a Man of the stature and integrity that Kipling refers to and because I saw my father living out most of these principals in every day life it has only motivated me more to attempt to be this Man.
So, after much planning and preperation, I broke my tattoo virginity on Sunday and had the final sentence in the Kipling poem, “You’ll be a man, my son.”, tattooed around my wrist. I also had a few ink splotches added because my father, in his writing, would often refer to himself (and that of the journalists from his era) as an ink-stained reporter.
I never want to forget my father and the splotches will always ensure that this never happens and the poem around my wrist is now a constant reminder to me of how I must strive to be the Man I am supposed to be. It took my father neigh on 60 years to get it right but get it right he did. If this is the only thing I am successful at in my life please God let this be it.
15 Comments
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December 21, 2010
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Great post Justin.
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December 21, 2010
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Awesome tribute to your dad and a great reminder of what we should be striving for!
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December 21, 2010
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If ever there was a good reason for a ‘tat, this is it. What a wonderful tribute.
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December 21, 2010
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Lovely poem, and great tattoo – having ink that has such meaning and inspiration can’t help but be a constant reminder of all the things that motivate you to keep striving to be who you want to be.
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December 21, 2010
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You needed no better reason to have this done Justin. Gives me goosebumps.
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December 21, 2010
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Justin Hartman, Nicolas Callegari. Nicolas Callegari said: Good post RT @justinhartman: Latest: My Tattoo, what, where and why I did it http://bit.ly/hB9gd0 [...]
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December 21, 2010
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Thank you everyone for your comments. I really, really appreciate it!!!!
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December 21, 2010
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Awesome post Justin.
I have a Grandfather who I look up to in the same way. He passed away 5 yrs ago.
Gonna read the poem now..
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December 21, 2010
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I envy you for the relationship you have/had with your father. Awesome gesture and a very cool tattoo.
PS. did it hurt a lot?
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December 21, 2010
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Stii I wasn’t sure what to expect but I can tell you it hurt a lot more than I thought it would. Certain parts of the tattoo were fine and bearable but the inside of the arm and the wrist bone were pretty excruciating.
Overall though, of the 30 min that it took to do it, maybe 5 min was unbearable and the rest was manageable. I think though that those 5 min is what stuck after.
Guys told me before it feels a lot like a cat digging its claws and scratching you and they’re right. It’s the best way to describe it.
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December 21, 2010
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Through this post I can see a very beautiful acupuncture metaphor. Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning. Though the process may involve a piercing of the skin and some degree of pain, the outcome is that is nourishes the tissues, blood flow and nervous pulses of the body.
The piercing of this tattoo, painful as it was to go through, has allowed for you to nourish your soul and spirit. I just have to say, it takes a very special bond between a father and a son to be able to make me write anything this deep. Very good post…
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December 21, 2010
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I think its glorious!
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January 16, 2011
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Love that tattoo and the meaning behind it!
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May 2, 2011
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Nice tattoos man
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June 17, 2011
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I really dont like tatoos but some can be really beautiful