La vita e bella.
Words I’ve kept close to me for many years. I first read them on the wall of my grandparent’s condo, and during the summer of 2013 I got them tattooed on my back. My grandfather had spoken those words many times before, and I truly love the moment of peace and clarity that the phrase “life is beautiful” can bring. I always try to look on the bright side of things. I’ve always kept a more positive outlook on life, and assured myself that life was taking me on a beautiful path.
I got the tattoo the morning that my then fiance left me. We got back from the appointment and an hour later I never saw him again.
Was life really all that beautiful now?
I hated those words for months; and I had to look at them every day. For those of you who have tattoos, you know the care that goes in to them during those first few days. It was painfully hard to take care of those words when my life had crumbled around me the very day that I decided to fully embrace the phrase “life is beautiful”. Life, at that time, was anything but beautiful.
Months passed and my outlook on that memory changed. I found strength in my family, friends, faith, and new people/experiences. I made my life beautiful again; and I looked at my tattoo with happiness knowing that no matter what comes my way, life is truly beautiful (p.s. things always work out for the better!!)
Today, I covered that tattoo. It was faded from the sun, and the letters had smushed together, making it no longer really legible to new eyes (nor did it look nice.) It was a hard decision, one I waffled on for a little while, but finally decided to go ahead with, simply because if I didn’t do it now, I would end up doing it next year when it looked even worse. (I cried thinking that I was “erasing” the memory from my grandfather, but smiled when Zach told me that it was going to be my little secret knowing that those words were underneath the new tattoo, reminding me.)
My life is the most beautiful when it’s a sunny day, with lots of puffy clouds scattered across the blue sky. It’s even better when I’m watching those clouds from atop a mountain, with the ocean calmly moving in front of me.
Mountains are big. They are beautiful. They can be hard, easy, boring, fun, rocky, spacious- and at the top, you never know what you’re going to get. Sometimes it’s a gorgeous view, sometimes it’s nothing special. Sometimes, you get nothing at all because the weather sucks or the clouds cover too much. But it’s always a walk I’m willing to take. It’s always something I enjoy doing and I always find some sort of beauty in it.
Find the beauty in your life, even through the cloudiest of days. Look back on things knowing that your world is still beautiful, knowing that you made it through the challenges and danced through the victories.
La vita e bella.
You can find me in the clouds... 
Wow, that was an amazing story. It moved me and I could relate at different points in your story. It shows your positive attitude and courage to keep moving forward. Thanks for sharing and I love the tattoo!
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I just had laser treatment last night to remove the tattoo from the top of my foot that I got when I was twenty something, so this was a very timely slice for me to read. I, too, struggled with the decision to erase something that held a certain memory, too. I’m so glad for your ability to hold your grandfather’s secret in your heart and to not let your experiences taint your vision of life as beautiful permanently. I loved the ending of your post.
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I love your tattoo and the story behind it. What a beautiful metaphor those mountains stand for. I think coming out of something like that makes you so much more of a stronger person and it makes you appreciate the real thing when you have it that much more (at least in my experience)!
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Wow! What a story. I’m glad you got to share it with us. I agree with your boyfriend – the words aren’t erased and much less the sentiment. They will always be there for you to cherish.
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