I don't normally do resolutions at the beginning of the year for a couple of reasons. 1) I can't think of a good one, or  2) the one's I know I should do (eat healthier, exercise more, blah, blah, blah) won't happen because I know I won't give them the proper amount of committment. With that said, for reasons I can't explain, the change of the calendar from 2011 to 2012 was different. I finally came up with a goal (I refuse to conform and call it a "resoultion") that I feel like I can get behind. 

Let's be honest here, by February you're already cheating on your diet thinking you'll make up for those two extra Twinkies later with an extra 5 minutes on the treadmill that won't ever happen because you're also skipping workouts due to a "long day at work".  Our intentions are good, but once we start putting forth the effort to make it happen we realize it's not the easiest thing in the world so we start thinking of ways to justify our previous lifestyle. I often find myself throwing God into the mix. For example, "if deep fried food and candy aren't good for us, why did God put them on earth? He put them here for us to eat so essentially I'm doing God's will." We're human, it's in our nature to find the path of least resistance. Think about, the only reason the lever was invented is because some person was tired of lifting heavy rocks. One person's laziness led to one of the greatest inventions in history.

My goal this year is not to buck that trend. Who am I to change human nature? No, my goal for 2012 is to simply "follow through". I often find myself coming up with what I think are cool ideas for the station or something in my personal life, but they never come to fruition because I'll either second guess the concept or realize that what I want to do may have the potential to become quite the undertaking and how would I balance that with work and spending time with my wife and kids. Just like everyone else, I justify a way not to do something. This is the year I strive to change that. Which means it's time I finally make a decision on a thought I've had for 10+ years...whether or not to get a tattoo.

The first tattoo shop I visited was in Bloomington, IN during a trip to IU to visit some friends going to school there. Three of my friends decided to get the same tattoo on the same place on their body. It's a Celtic cross on one of their biceps. Since that trip, the thought of getting some permanent ink of my own has sat in the back of mind, creeping forward more and more frequently has the years have passed.

So what's the hang up then? Tattoos are more socially acceptable now than ever before. The days of tats being limited to drunken sailors, inmates, and greasy bikers are a thing of the past. At first it was not knowing what design I wanted permanently embedded in my flesh, but over the years I settled on a design related to what I do for a living. I won't go into detail as to what it is exactly for fear of ruining the suprise if it happens, but I think if the right artist gets his or her hands on it, it has the potential to be pretty sweet.

But that itself provides another issue, what if I finally man-up and get it done only to have it not look like what I envisioned. Unlike a Kardashian wedding, I can't just get rid of it 72 days later. Everytime I see it, the only thing that would enter my mind is that I wasted a good chunk of money on something I can't get rid of (yes, I know they offer tattoo removal these days, but that's so insanely expensive, I wouldn't even consider the option).

And then there is the cost. If I'm going to do this the way I picture it in my head, I want full-color, not some black and gray shaded thing. Nothing against those type of tats, when done well they can look spectaular, but what little I do know about tattooing from my friends that have them, if you want color, be ready to fork over the dough.

My final hangup is the meaning behind the design. As I mentioned earlier, what I want to get is related to my job. But what happens if a year or two down the road, the passion I have and have had for my chosen career path dwindles? Honestly, I don't see that happening. If it was going to, it would have happened by now. But what if it's not my choice not to be involved in radio? Let's say the day comes where I'm the victim of a budget cut, will my body art do nothing but become a constant reminder of what was or what could have been?

Perhaps I'm overthinking the whole thing (I tend to do that with everything). Yes, it is permanent and even if life takes a me on a different path somewhere along the line, the tattoo will serve as a reminder of the good times I had in this crazy world of radio or maybe it will provide the inspiration for me to get back in the game if for whatever reason, I happen to leave it. Whatever I decide, as long as I decide something, I've at least followed through on an idea and stuck to my new year's goal.

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