I got this tattoo a couple days ago after making a very important decision about my life… It is the chemical structure for dopamine, which is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that makes us feel happy and rewarded. High dopamine activity also occurs with the use of addictive, mood-elevating drugs. After recovering from a horrific car accident four years ago I became addicted to painkillers that helped the pain I felt from a shattered spinal column and the emotional pain from a destroyed family. But they slowly started to ruin my life, so I’ve hit the point now that I’ve decided that I want to get better and never have to live like this again. So the tattoo is a daily reminder that I can be happy without drugs or money or a happy family— or any external factors. I just have to want it and I just have to work at it.
This tattoo was done by Jules at Freaky’s in Boulder, CO. He did an excellent job; I LOVE IT!!