i recognized her as one of us in an instant.
we are told never to judge a book by its cover. instructed to know people before making judgements.
for the most part, this advise is sound. for the most part. but i fiercely believe the clothing people choose wear and the way they decorate themselves speaks volumes.
where ever i go, i am on the lookout for members of my tribe.
i keep one eye peeled for girls with substantial ink. for guys with the band tshirts. for people reading shakespeare and arthur miller.
people who paint their lips red, who wear piercings, and who rock visible tattoos typically posses a unique set of traits. these are the creatives. the decisive men and women. the individuals comfortable with commitment.
these decorated canvases tend to take a firm stand on tough issues. they have strong opinions.
for the most part they read.
they listen to music… not just the newer, hipper stuff, but the classics. the smiths, johnny cash, bob dylan.
they have an appreciation for individuality and are more often than not, confident in their skin. unconcerned with the peanut gallery.
a few days ago i met a member of the tribe. i recognized her as one of us in an instant. she had ruby lips, a sleeve of tattoos, and wore a scarf to cover her hair. when i asked what brought her and her friends to experience the zipline tour that day, she explained ziplining was one of the last items on her bucket list. she has advanced lukemia. without a pause she asked for directions to the nearest dairy queen.
her ability to transform a death sentence into an adventure had a quick and profound impact. her fearless spirit struck a chord in me. reminded me of the unquenchable craving i have to get the shit scared out of me. to take fears and replace them with memories.
today i kicked it up a notch. blasted rock and roll. had nine inches of my hair chopped off. spent time at grandparents’ house and looked through old photos. started planning a trip to maui.
do what you want to do… dont put it off. do it. do it for you. do it for me. do it for the girl in my tribe.