Hey guys! Need your help for a tattoo idea!

[Hawker]

Soo as the title says I'm having my second tattoo, 3/4 sleeve actually. And I've planned everything else, but the text for the whole tat needs a bit let's say...fine adjustement. See the theme is "Life is a journey". And I don't wanna put it like that. It's way too corny. I want to capture in one sentence the meaning of the following aphorism:

"Life isn’t a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ‘Woohoo WHAT A RIDE’!"

So I wanna emphasize the meaning of living the life as a journey day by day and not thinking about how your going to end up in the end of it. So first I was thinking for a long time that I'd take the phrase: "It's not about the destination, but the journey"
But still it sounds a bit corny..I would want it to be more original. Plus the shorter the phrase the better.

Also english is not my native language, so if you guys have any ideas how to make my idea into a shorter and more original sentence than it would be much appreciated! So any ideas?

 

[saaaaaadpanda]

I personally don't like text in tattoos. I would go for a metaphorical image or symbol. A car maybe?

 

[-S-]

I agree with the bear. The more you read your tattoo, the more it will sound cheesy. An image or symbol can represent many different messages.

 

[Hawker]

Thanks for your input! The tattoo is going to have three different pictures/"symbols" which represent my past, the present and my future. They're all connected and therefore have symbolism important to me.

But hey you guys actually make a great point. I was so focused on wanting a great text to represent my theme, that I wasn't thinking the possibility of getting no text at all. 'Cause in the end the meaning of the tattoo should already be well seen in the pictures and symbols themselves.

So I'll definitely think about not taking any text onto my sleeve. But if you still got any ideas I'm all ears!

 

[saaaaaadpanda]

Thanks for your input! The tattoo is going to have three different pictures/"symbols" which represent my past, the present and my future. They're all connected and therefore have symbolism important to me.

But hey you guys actually make a great point. I was so focused on wanting a great text to represent my theme, that I wasn't thinking the possibility of getting no text at all. 'Cause in the end the meaning of the tattoo should already be well seen in the pictures and symbols themselves.

So I'll definitely think about not taking any text onto my sleeve. But if you still got any ideas I'm all ears!

I'm glad you're considering forgoing the text. It usually looks tacky. As far as any more image ideas, that's going to have to be up to you. Tattoos are incredibly personal, so if you can't think of anything, you should ask people close to you, not strangers.

 

[Hawker]

I'm glad you're considering forgoing the text. It usually looks tacky. As far as any more image ideas, that's going to have to be up to you. Tattoos are incredibly personal, so if you can't think of anything, you should ask people close to you, not strangers.

I completely agree with you, that's why I aren't nor wasn't asking about any image ideas from anyone here. Or did you misunderstood?

But to my original question, it's just that texts also can say things that images can't. It kinda brings together the whole tattoo. So I want to emphasize that I have all the images planned out for the tattoo. So I will either take it with those images plus the text or with those images and without the text. I just thought if you guys would've had somekind of shorter version in mind of the aphorism I was talking about.

Also something I had in mind was: "It's not the place you get to, it's the walk to get there. But again a little too long...the shorter the phrase the more impact it has.