Personal Narrative : Soul Tattoo

Bereavement and loss - The loss of a loved one such as a parent, sibling, grandparent or friend can turn a child’s world upside down. Grief can bring all sorts of emotions, upset, sadness, hurt and anger because they are gone and, fear because the child may be afraid of other loved ones dying too. A child can be affected by grief for a long period of time, and this may impact on their emotional and physical

Gregory Boyle begins chapter eight: “Success with a few questions that seem so simplistic at first glance. What is success and what is failure? What is good and what is bad? Setback or progress?” (Boyle 167). Taking a few moments to process these questions, one realizes that the question is quite complex and difficult. Success has such a subjective definition that it can only be defined by the one who answers the question of “what is success to you?” and has no universal definition. Specifically with gang members, success in the context of their lives is about personal growth and less about tangible results. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will

The parents came out of Grandma’s room by one by one, bags under their eyes, makeup running down their face, and bright red noses. By that time, I could almost predict what happened. As my mom and dad approached us with their heads down, I prepared myself to hear exactly what I never wanted to hear. “The doctors are turning off the life support machine. She isn’t suffering anymore, and she will be looking over every one of you guys. She said she loves you all so much,” Mom told us while my dad didn’t hide his tears back.

“I’m getting in the car, are you coming?” My mom yelled up to me. I grabbed my bag and rushed down stairs.

Everyone is deserving of compassion and kinship so they can realize they are wholly acceptable. In the book Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle, gang members don't feel wholly acceptable because they haven't experienced compassion and kinship. Father Boyle provides compassion by giving them jobs. Gang members are deserving of compassion and kinship so they can break the cycle of shame and realize they are wholly acceptable.

“No, you’re Spanish is very good. I can—und, understand you,” she laughingly replied in English, “ I need to get—bet, better at English”

“Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not,” This quote by C.S. Lewis speaks to the idea of God wanting more for us. God is someone who is always there for you no matter what happens. Though we may kill, steal, cheat or otherwise sin, God’s love never fades. The idea of the love of God never fading is very much prevalent in the novels Tattoos on the Heart and Alive. The struggles of gang members on the streets of Los Angeles and survivors of a plane crash in south America are connected through the faith they have lost in God.

“ But I was trying out Spanish. I knew at that time it was a ridiculous thing to say”..

“Drew, you know grandma loved you so, so much,” my mom tells me in the most heartbroken tone, one which I had heard only once before when my grandpa had died.

“Hey I'll go waste a few bucks to see her dance” the other said I clenched my hands into fists. It took all my strength not to turn around and sock the both in the mouth. I shook the thought out of my mind and I unlocked my apartment door and walked

While grief is usually associated with a death, children can grieve over other things as well. Some children grieve over the loss of a pet, separation from a parent, loss of a childhood friend etc. How old a child is at the time of loss certainly affects the child's perception of the event. Although babies are unable to express themselves verbally, they will certainly exhibit reactions to loss. They may seem more fussy, inconsolable, or have changes in their eating and sleeping patterns. Very young children, ages 2 to 4, are egocentric: they think the world revolves around them, and their concept of death is limited. They may think that death is reversible, and their main reactions to death may be that their daily routine and care are altered.

"Ivy, estás 10 minutos tarde. Detención después de la escuela." She says. It takes me a minute to translate what she's saying. 'Ivy, you're 10 minutes late. Detention after school.' .....SHOOOOOOT

Blowing warm air into her hands, she trudged across the street towards her condo. Her back was aching from the mass of textbooks she carried in her backpack. Her winter boots had filled up with snow, and made her feet feel like over-frozen popsicles. Through the front window, she saw the twinkling lights of their Christmas tree, all decorated and sparkling. She shuddered as she walked up the stairs towards the front door. As she opened the door, immediate warmth filled her body. She felt like melting. Hot chocolate was all she could think of.

On Sunday night when I climbed into bed I laid there thinking about tomorrow. Fortune had finally dealt me a royal flush. Monday morning I would finally be promoted to manager of one of Tommy’s fifty Tattoos and Body Piercings Salons. I thought about when Tommy hired me Five years ago, right after I dropped out of Art School in my freshman year and how he taught me everything he knew about the art of tattooing. They guy’s not much on compliments, but every once in awhile he would tell me that I was the best tattoo artists he had ever seen. His only worry was that I would open my own shop and run him out of business. That’s never gonna happen, I would reassured him. Attached to the promotion was a substantial increased in salary and that

Tattoos can be a great form of self expression, if picked appropriately. “Young Adults Should Not Use Tattoos for Self Expression,” by Lizzie A Encino addresses how tattoos should be illegal for everyone under the age of 21. Encino argues how 18 year olds aren’t yet mature enough to make such an permanent decision. She then touches on how tattoos can negatively affect adolescents job opportunities because employees may see them as unprofessional. She mentions how tattoos can be extremely painful, costly, and potentially ruin one’s image overall if done at a cheap place. Another reason is because tattoo parlors can accidently use a previously used needle and spread deadly diseases. I believe that tattoos should be illegal to those under the