I've been meaning to put this post together for a while but as you can imagine it's been a huge job to download all the photos off the camera (there were over 2,000!) I hope looking at these pics make you smile as much as they make me smile. Probably not, but I hope you enjoy them anyway.

 

It’s that time again! Finally a new Tattoo Tuesday to share with you! I know it hasn’t actually been THAT long but it feels like it…I just love getting tattooed! Haha This is another piece by the amazing Tilly Lace at Trailer Trash Tattoo! An old school piece I’ve had picked out for a little while, it’s a bit of a nod to Sailor Jerry’s pioneering style and with the anniversary of his death tomorrow, I think it’s a fitting tribute.

This piece is on my left elbow and has filled in a large area on my arm. There’s not much space left to go until this sleeve is finished with just a couple of little fillers and some background to go. I love the colours and expression on this tiger, it looks beautiful and savage at the same time. Also, I love that getting it on my elbow means that when my arm is bent it looks like it’s roaring. Kinda cool huh? Also, who knew getting a photo of your own elbow was so hard??

I must admit this hurt a lot more than I thought it would and more than I remember my other elbow hurting but maybe I’d just forgotten? Still, I love it and am so glad I got it. It’s turned out so well and Tilly’s work continues to amaze me.

RIP Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins (14/07/1911 – 12/06/1973)

The past few days I've been reflecting on what I've achieved in my life in the last couple of months and it's really nothing short of amazing. I've done things that I never thought I'd do and I still can't quite believe I've done. I've made some memories to last a lifetime, taken some risks and seen the world. I feel really grateful to have had some fantastic opportunities and I'm so proud of myself for taking them with both hands. I thought this song was particularly fitting for today's post.

I suppose the things that stick out to me the most are the USA trip, specifically shooting guns! To think that I shot a Glock 9mm, an AR-15 Rifle, a shotgun and an AK-47 is almost unbelievable to me, but I have the pictures and the memories to prove it. I won't lie, I was a bit scared but I was also brave enough to go ahead with it and I had a lot of fun. And you know what? I'm sensing a pattern here...

Because, last week I went away to the Whitsundays with work. And while I was there I did a few things that again, I never thought I would be brave enough or have the opportunity to do. The first was holding a shark. Those who know me or have been reading this blog for a while will know that sharks are one of my biggest fears. A little irrational maybe but still, I've been freaked out in swimming pools before that's how paranoid I am! haha And sure, this bamboo shark is a pretty little guy but he still had teeth that could cause some damage and well, I AM HOLDING A SHARK!! Haha

I also hand fed predatory fish and giant sting rays. Well, if you consider dangling half a fish into the water and then squealing and letting go as the fish/ray goes for it as 'hand feeding'. Again, I was a fair bit out of my comfort zone but I did it and enjoyed it, even if I looked like the girliest girl ever and had the marine biologist in stitches. BUT I DID IT! And, just when I thought the trip couldn't get any better, we went on a daytrip out to the Great Barrier Reef and I WENT SCUBA DIVING for the very first time in my entire life!!!

This was a completely amazing experience and I actually felt a little teary afterwards as I couldn't quite believe that a) I had been brave enough to do it and that b) I had been lucky enough to do it. I mean, it's something that people come from all over the world to do!! Considering what a sook I am when it comes to anything to do with the ocean, I was so proud of myself for being brave enough to get out of my comfort zone and give it a go. It's not exactly an opportunity that comes along very often, so I'm so glad I didn't refuse!

I am so proud of myself and I'm beginning to learn to embrace stepping out of my comfort zone, being brave and giving something a go even if it does seem a bit scary. So far, the results have all been immensely positive so who knows what else I've been missing out on all this time?

 

Do you try to step out of your comfort zone? Have you ever done something scary or exciting?