38…
It’s my birthday tomorrow and I seem to be going through a period of reflection, not just of the last year but the last 10 years because I also reached 10 years of tattooing. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ve achieved over the years, old jobs, mistakes, previous opinions and feelings, ways I’ve grown as a person and as an artist. I’ve been making lists of future goals and steps to reach them but feeling paralysed by the sheer amount of things I want to do, not knowing where to start and feeling as though time passes too quickly. I’m going to be 38, not 100!! Although my goal is 120… I have spent more time scrolling social media this last week than I have in a really long time, a good procrastination technique and way to avoid starting to work on new goals, urgh! I hate feeling like this, perhaps it's time to remove social media apps from my phone again in a bid to be more productive.
I have my first convention coming up early next month, the Big North Tattoo Show in Newcastle, about 3 weeks away, I’m already booked for the weekend and my plan, if I can get my arse in gear, is to also have some prints ready for the show. I want to do 10 each of two drawings, one of which is still in progress (get your arse in gear Michelle) and hand embellish them. I also need business cards and a new poster. And even that feels like too much. I’ve also not booked my hotel yet, or decided if I’ll go by train or drive, what am I doing with my time!! It truly is a rock and roll life this tattooing business…
Perhaps I will feel better and raring to go once my birthday has passed. I’ve been hoping it would fly under the radar of most friends this year, pass by quietly and without fuss, but cards have already been arriving in the post and even that feels overwhelming right now, not that I’m not grateful. Tomorrow's actual birthday plan is breakfast out, a walk for doughnuts and other than that I might sit and draw for me, that feels like a nice chilled birthday. No wild nights out or rowdy dinners any more, I like the quiet.
Me doing my first tattoo 10 years ago.