A PR Girl Gets Ink(ed), or Amanda Goes to the Tattoo Parlor
As you may have seen on Twitter or heard on Utterz, I got a tattoo today. Behold:
Since people had been wrinkling noses at and asking questions about my tat before I got it, I wanted to take this opportunity to explain what it means to me. My first one (the letter A on my left foot) never required a lengthy explanation, but this one seems to baffle people. And honestly, I don’t want to have to explain the meaning of my tattoo a billion times, so if you ask me about it in real life, I’ll probably just direct you to this post instead of actually telling you. Sah-reez, yo.
Let’s discuss.
So, back in November, Chris Brogan tagged me at Jeff Pulver’s Boston Real-time Social Networking party with a tiny sticker on my shoulder. I looked down, and it said “The Future” on it. I remember thinking, “Wow, that is not only the coolest compliment I’ve ever received, but it’s a really excellent perspective-framing concept.” Sure, it was just a couple of words on a sticker, but the more I thought about it, the more it struck me in a few different ways and influenced the tattoo I got today:
We spend so much time quick-sanding in our past and swamped in our present–we don’t dream enough. We don’t imagine ourselves, our lives, the world around us how we really hope things will be in the future. We don’t have time for that crap, right? Well, since 2008 began, I’ve been trying to take that step back so I can look forward and visualize things the way I want them to be. That’s half the battle anyway. I don’t think of myself as all that optimistic or Pollyanna in my general outlook, but taking a few minutes each day or a couple times a week to remind myself that there is a future that’s going to happen so I better do what I can to make it look the way I want, is really good for me. I recommend trying it. My tattoo is a reminder to acknowledge that the future is inevitably and continually about to happen, so I should prepare for and influence it as best I can to achieve the outcomes I desire of it.
I’m not gonna lie–I like to think of myself as the future. I’m young, so I’m still allowed to believe that I’m going to have a great life and do some good things along the way. My peers and I have been called the “entitlement generation” and it’s often said that we’re overconfident and expect too much. Of course I’m biased, but I think our drive and unwillingness to settle make us poised to turn the future into a pretty awesome place. (And please don’t forget that we learned our behaviors and perspectives from our parents, teachers and other socializing agents when we were young. We aren’t pulling our uncompromising views out of nowhere–the adults who molded us as children helped form these traits that drive us toward our respective futures.) So, say what you will about me and my generation, but I really am the future. My tattoo is a reminder to demand and create the future I hope for and expect in myself and the world around me.
Part of incorporating the perspective frame of “the future” into my identity is the sense that it’s not just about me. In my idea of the future, there are a lot of other people with me who need to get from this point A to that point B, too. Part of my “job” as an agent for future-shaping is helping the people around me to achieve their goals and wants as well. Life would be less rich if the people I know and love weren’t part of my future with me. My tattoo is a reminder to help others along the way as we each move toward our own futures that are undeniably strengthened by our collective, connected success.
As my Grade-A new friend Alexa Scordato pointed out today, “The placement of your tattoo is perfect. It shows that your feet are always headed in the right direction… the future.” So, come to the future with me. It’ll be good.
Thank you to Stingray Body Art in Boston for putting up with my squeamish tendencies and for creating this tattoo for me. Extra special thanks to my artist Nate Stevens for being completely adorable and talented, and to Brenda Wynne for being hilarious and making my friend’s tattoo beautiful.
Also, Mom and Dad, you probably thought I was kidding and/or I wouldn’t get this tattoo after Mom called me a dope, but I hope that after reading this you don’t mind too much. You’re part of my future too. Love you.
21 Responses to “A PR Girl Gets Ink(ed), or Amanda Goes to the Tattoo Parlor”
Leave a Reply
Nice one. Always glad to see people get inked with something that /has/ meaning.. rather than something off the wall.
Keep your toes pointed in the right direction… and you are good to go!
[…] just visited my friend Amanda Gravel’s website, Social Honeycomb and read her new post about the future, which started out being about a tattoo, but evolved into a lesson everyone should pay attention […]
Totally great. I love it. I love that you feel this way.
I just got off the phone with a high school friend. We were talking about youth, years gone by, and the future.
And now, ten minutes later, I’m reading your blog post.
Ahhhhh. I feel good.
The future.
Nice ink! I love the story behind yours..
Nice!
Well… you are definitely a future oriented girl!
No question about it… ;)
Andrea
Very nice. I saw the picture and thought it was cool but after reading the story, it’s just amazing. You rock!
i love you. you are beautiful and smart. im so proud of us.
It’s great!
And you are the future - the future is always shaped by those who are passionate, open-minded, seeking, and striving. Some people ride the train, others sit in the driver’s seat. I think we know where you are riding!
Go with it! :)
Amanda:
I like the tat
And that’s dat.
But what I like most
Is the strength of your post.
SQ
Usually, I think people get words like “Believe” and “love” and “The future” for purely shallow reasons. But you obviously have put a lot of thought into this. You’re the future of our country, the future of our culture, and the future social media. I’m so glad that you’ve put a lot of both emotion and intelligence into your choice of tattoo. Good on ya!
I really don’t have the opportunity to attend such gatherings but your having been tagged as the future gave me a rather good idea for a team building session. Sometimes, I pick up inspirations from different blogs. It’s funny how I never really plan on it. But I guess I’m lucky to have read this post. By the way, that is a beautiful tatoo
@ Everyone
Thank you for all the great feedback! I’m glad that you like my ink and understand where I’m coming from with its meaning. It feels great knowing I have some believers in this with me.
:D
APG
Amanda,
You do have the benefit of youth on your side, that is for sure. I also get a sense that you know who to listen to when you are deciding what direction to move to while setting your course for the future. You will no doubt do well.
[…] college, and now working a career (PR) job at SHIFT Communications. Amanda is a future-thinker, as this post will most certainly […]
your a dope
Dad, no! I’m a good kid.
I like it. I thought I’d seen you limping thru the office the other day. ;)
[…] Photo credit: Amanda Gravel, who is indeed the future with thought-provoking posts like this. […]
[…] group is inspiring and very much in line with my view of creating a stronger, brighter, fuller future in the communities we find around […]
Its been awhile but our thoughts are headed in the right direction!! Its like with your one tattoo you have put all of my thoughts on your foot. Well, maybe not ALL my thoughts.. but a good portion of them. And your blog is put so much more eloquently than I could have said any of those things!!
Sepetember 20,2008
Hello Amanda,
My name is Antoinette and I found this page while doing research for a expository essay final. The topic of my final is: “Why people choose to get tattoos and why others choose not to”.
I was wondering if it would be ok if I cite your story in my essay. please contact me by October 2,2008 if it is ok.
Thank you
Antoinette Skill
annskill@email.phoenix.edu