Nice Girls Do Get Tattoos

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Kristy Cates, Actress and Teacher

"I never thought I'd get a tattoo. But in 2008 I had an experience that changed my life. I was on a trip to Sedona and sitting in a church when suddenly -- I know this sounds crazy -- I felt the presence of my late grandmother Opal, who was part Cherokee. She was telling me, "Open your heart." The next day we were on a tour with a local shaman woman who looked at me and said, "I have several women here from your lineage. They want you to open your heart." I nearly fell over. There was no way this woman knew about my experience in the church the day before. When I got back to New York, I kept thinking about getting a tattoo to remind me of this message, but I didn't really want to get the whole phrase written out. Then I found a drawing of the Cherokee peace flag. It was perfect and I've never regretted my decision once."

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