Kendal Atkin

In March I had a health event on a cruise ship and woke up days later in Jamaica in the ICU, my boyfriend then decided to block me and kick me out. I have been living out of the suitcase I left for the cruise with since. These three most recent tattoos represent not stressing over what I cannot control, instead something I can control is a beautiful memory on my body to remind me of an empowering time in my life.

I have tattoos that other friends or family members have, after very meaningful, spiritual trips:(grand canyon, Arizona, Colorado, San Francisco, Jamaica, Montreal) I have a tattoo to remind me of my recovery (14 months consecutive clean time). I have tattoos for loved ones who have passed. But most importantly all of them have a memory of the session in itself. What brought me there, to that artist, with that design. My tattoos are an encrypted art piece for the beholder to interpret.

I am a survivor of abuse from a young age until my mid twenties. I have made it part way through a nursing degree and am trying to complete a degree in social psychology but my life circumstances have made my huge focus to be on providing love and support to my community and to be able to ask for support myself. I tend to give more than I take and have learned that with privilege comes responsibility. I would pay my debt, help some of my friends who are victims of abuse with their bills,