Kickin it in Kailua

It’s been a few months since I last made a blog post. I gotta say these last few months have been trying. I’m in the thick of my apprenticeship and jumping into the unknown has been hard for me. I can feel a lot of internal resistance that I know I need to overcome in order to get to the next level. I’ve been doing tattoos that I’ve been really happy with, in addition to honing the fundamentals in packing color, shading and lining! I’ve made some really cool designs and I’ve met some really cool people along the way.

Something I’ve been doing for myself consistently since getting to Kailua has been going to jiu jitsu two times a week. It’s kept me mentally sharp, improved my mood overall, and it’s helped me feel a lot more confident in protecting myself if I ever needed to physically do so. I’m beyond grateful for the leaders I’ve been following. They’ve given me opportunities to market myself, improve my skills, and get out of my comfort zone. Though uncomfortable, I know I’ve been growing and I’m further than where I used to be. I have to remind myself often that the only thing that I truly “know” is that I don’t know anything.

I’ve been lucky during my apprenticeship to have a couple of days off a week. That’s not something most apprentices are generally afforded, but I’ve been given some freedoms and I am extremely grateful for that. On my off days, if I’m not completely exhausted from working at the shop, I’ll work on designs or marketing materials for myself. At this point, I’ve made designs for four t-shirts, designed business cards, stickers and some coasters for the shop! If I do in fact need a rest day, I’ll try to make it out to the beach or I’ll stay in and sleep until I can’t any more. I’ve also been lucky to have gotten tattooed by some artists that I really admire, including other apprentices that I want to support!

After 8 months I’m happy to say that I still love what I do and that I’m open to learning every day. Some days are harder than others, but the perspective is what matters.

Thank you for reading my entry, and I’ll catch you on the next update. :)

—Dani