This tattoo is of a dove being uncaged to set it free and the Rose represents the heart and deep heart healing. The dove, for me, represents peace and freedom. My heart has been a place of a lot of distress and unrest in my life. I have seen and overcame a lot. Peace has not come easy and last year, when my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer, my heart wanted to wall up and not let anyone in. Which is why, for me, tattoos are very much symbolic of the phase of life I am in or are representing a memory that is important to me. I am also reminded by the dove that freedom is choice and I am the only one who holds the key to my own self induced "cages". To challenge and push myself to be open and keep my heart open during a very dark and difficult time, I wanted to represent this tattoo as a reminder for myself that no matter how dark it may seem, there is hope, peace, and light at the end of the tunnel. I also found this very fitting to blog about today, in the first part of May, as we come into mental health awareness month. I don't think any of us need to struggle in our darkness. I try to remember to live in hope... H.old O.n P.ain E.nds.
