There was a girl in front of me in yoga yesterday with a long text written on her side. I was squinting to see what it said—I almost pulled out my readers—but then I realized we had mirrors in front of us so she could see me struggling to try to read her skin. I thought I’d better return to tree pose.
I find all tattoos intriguing.
Even the tacky ones that cover an entire body.
They always tell a story that I want to hear.
I am especially intrigued when I see a semicolon, because I know, without having to utter a word to the person who graces that specific kind of tattoo, that she is a kindred spirit.
Project Semicolon began in April 2013 when Founder Amy Bleuel decided that she was going to start a movement of hope communicated in a simple semicolon tattoo in honor of her father who took his life ten years earlier. She posted this announcement on social media outlets:
On April 16, 2013 everyone who self harms, is suicidal, depressed, has anxiety, is unhappy, going through a broken heart, just lost a loved one, etc., draw a semicolon on your wrist. A semicolon represents a sentence the author could’ve ended, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.
However, when the first Semicolon day garnered more than 500,000 participants, she realized that the symbol was not just about one person, but a global community of human beings longing to continue their story and live a life that would inspire others to continue on, as well.
Therese,
Thank you for this hopeful and personal post.
John Diehl
Thanks, John. Appreciate that! Hope you’re well! t
Thanks for bringing attention to this beautiful movement. There is so much power in something as small as a semicolon…