Tattoos as Symbols of Identity, Resilience and Empathy
On this INKspirational episode our guest, Stephen Vellecca, takes us on a profound journey of self-expression, acceptance, and empathy, while sharing many of the 20 meaningful tattoos he has chosen, each symbolizing a different aspect of his life.
"I want us as a society to stop assuming and stop leading with negative intent. If we all lead with good intent, and we look to understand a story behind someone's motivation for getting a tattoo and the journey of what it means to that person personally, then we're moving in the right direction."
On this INKspirational episode our guest, Stephen Vellecca, takes us on a profound journey of self-expression, acceptance, and empathy.
Stephen shares many of the 20 meaningful tattoos he has chosen, each symbolizing a different aspect of his life.
A Wonder Woman tattoo representing truth, vulnerability, and non-violence, an homage to his icon, Stevie Nicks, whose music has guided him through challenging moments, an OM tattoo, a galloping mustang illustrating his love and passion for the Ford Mustang, a seahorse tattoo representing strength and resilience, an anchor tattoo honoring the joy he provides for his friends and family on his boat named "SS Rhiannon," and many more designs that all resonate deeply within him.
Throughout this episode, Stephen challenges societal judgments on tattoos, reminding us that it's the personal meaning behind the ink that truly matters.
Don't hide your uniqueness. Express yourself proudly, whether through art, tattoos, or personal choices. Society is slowly realizing the value of individuality, and we should all play a part in fostering this acceptance.
Whether it's through his love for music, his involvement in his community, or his dedication to helping others unlock their potential, Stephen's story is filled with creativity, passion, and the power of authentic self-expression.
A special shoutout to Stephen's talented tattoo artist Jeff Schick, who works out of Forsaken Ink in Milford, NJ. Check out his awe*mazing work on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/jeffschicktattoos and https://www.instagram.com/forsakenink
Check out this episode on Spotify - and add Your Ink Story to your library!
Be sure to hop on over to Your Ink Story’s Instagram feed (@tellmeyourinkstory) to watch the video reel showcasing Stephen's many INKspirational tattoos. And share your thoughts in the comments - we want to hear your ink stories too!
If you liked Stephen's ink stories, then you'll like these three episodes:
Celebrating Hope, Healing and Second Chances Through Tattoo Art - EP 5
Tapping into the Power of Gratitude Through Tattoo Art - EP 9
Honoring Loved Ones with Meaningful Memorial Tattoos - EP 20
Please rate and review this podcast wherever you are tuning in, and if this episode inspired you, please share it, so we can bring more people together, inspire connection, and ignite conversations that go beyond the surface.
If you or someone you know has an ink story to share on the podcast, please send me an email: ande at yourinkstory.com.
Waving from Boston and wishing you a delicious day, everywhere you glow – cheers!
Ande ♥
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stephen vellecca
I am 55, born on long island and lived in Manhattan since 1992 with the exception of one short stint in Miami (tattoo devoted to that period) and time at my country house in the poconos during covid. I just recently decided for financial reasons to live full time in the poconos (NYC 1992) tattoo devoted to this decision -
I have worked for Bloomingdale's for 25+ years and my focus in Learning & Development for our Department Store Leaders.
I have a creative side that has afforded me a few photography shows (tattoo of a canon ae1 coming soon) and passionate about spirituality, mental health, learning etc. My free time is spent landscaping. I have had two tattoo artists (for the most part) as i believe the intimate connection is critical to the experience. I can not walk into a tattoo shop and just get a tattoo.
My tatts represent a story board of my life. Each one either created, imagined or inspired by something I see or experienced that commemorates a chapter of my life.
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