We can dance until we die
This tattoo embodies my family, my passions, and a way of life that transcends the physical body.
I originally got this tattoo at a point when dancing felt like the only thing that inspired joy for me. I asked my family to write out the phrase “we can dance until we die”—which, yes, is a Katy Perry lyric (I was in my early 20s)! I didn’t tell them why, because I wanted their genuine handwriting, unaffected by the purpose behind my asking for it.
I then pieced together the sentence using different letters taken from each of their handwritten submissions. I can’t tell you who wrote which letters—they blend together seamlessly in my opinion—and I had the sentence tattooed on my forearm. The wings around it represent those in our family who’ve passed on.
When my family saw the tattoo, they all said they wished they’d been more careful with their penmanship—but that’s precisely why I didn’t tell them. I love seeing it written in their truest form of handwriting.
Some time later, I worked as a caretaker for the elderly and met a woman who used to be a professional ballet dancer. An injury to her hip no longer allowed her to dance. When she saw my tattoo, she shared her story and said this—this song lyric—is how she still lives life. She can no longer dance with her legs, but she will continue to dance in spirit, until she dies.
My meaning was simple: I will keep dancing and finding joy in my passion and my family. But her story gave my tattoo a deeper layer I’ve never forgotten. I carry her words with me everywhere. And when someone asks what my tattoo means, I tell them it’s about maintaining a joyful spirit throughout the hard times and dancing through life… even when my legs no longer can carry me, I will still dance.