Anon: Peace in the midst of chaos

When I was married, my wedding ring was a Claddagh ring; the Claddagh is a symbol of two hands holding a heart topped by a crown. Our table numbers also had a Claddagh on the side. The Claddagh symbolizes love, friendship, and loyalty, and Claddagh rings are traditionally used to pledge faith. For marriage, the ring is typically worn on the left ring finger with the heart pointed inward, showing to the world that your heart is taken forever. 

A few years ago, I planned to have a Claddagh design tattooed on my arm to celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary. I was going to have the symbol included in the tattoo along with our names and wedding date.

Fortunately for me, in hindsight, my tattoo artist had an 18-month waiting list. To my great shock, by the time the appointment came around my marriage was over. I was living alone in an apartment trying to figure out how to put my life together, and my husband was living with his new “soulmate” in the house I was still paying for. Yes, this was quite the twist!

Given all of this, a tattoo redesign was in order. I took out the name and date, redrawing the heart as ripped in half but held together and supported by the hands. This design represents my survival and emphasizes the support and love of my friends and family.

My husband betrayed me at the most fundamental level. He betrayed our marriage vows and inflicted extreme emotional abuse during this time. I learned that he was not the person I thought he was. Though it turned out that the love, friendship, and loyalty in my marriage were a lie, real love, friendship, and loyalty were alive and well with my friends and family. Those hands holding up that heart and helping it heal are my friends and family.

I added the Celtic tree of life to signify rebirth, balance, and harmony. This symbolizes that out of all this chaos, I hope to find peace and harmony once again.