I was raised in a household that did not condone tattoos. I remember after my parents divorced, my father got a shoulder tattoo, and I was shocked and didn’t really know what to think. I never really thought I would end up getting one.

I always liked the idea of having a tattoo. I really think tattoos look bad-ass, although I know I could probably never pull off that “look”. For a long time I wanted to get a small astrological symbol – the constellation of Scorpio – on my ribs, or hip, or somewhere else that I could easily hide.

However, my good friend McKenzie gave me the idea of an olive branch. Kenzie has tattoos and was thinking of getting this for herself, but I guess I kinda stole her idea.

This is symbolic for me because I really resonate with the meaning behind it. After all the rains and floods in the story of Noah’s Ark, God presented an olive branch to promise peace and prosperity after the flood. I thought that I really needed this reminder, that there are great things awaiting me after these past few hellish years.

I went on a girl’s trip to Houston and decided to get it done there. I should have done more research about tattoos (I didn’t take Tylenol or even bring Vaseline) because getting a tattoo on my ribs HURT. It felt like I was being cut open with a knife. Good thing my tattoo is small, and the pain only had to be endured for about 10 minutes.

I’m not sure if I will be getting other tattoos, but for now, I am happy with this. I feel like it is super meaningful to me, and I love the design and placement.