About a year ago I started a project called A Stranger A Day to overcome my shyness and talk to people. The challenge: talk to a stranger a day for a year of my life and try to convince them to let me take a picture and share a story. Since most tattoos have a story behind them, this was my conversation starter and a common thread that linked them all. Every week I have been sharing the story of the week here on Vancouver Is Awesome.

With the year now over and 365+ strangers and their stories documented, I’ll continue to talk to a stranger every once in a while, and post a story weekly here on VIA.

Stranger #370 – weeklyish posts | Location: Lucy’s Eastside Diner on Main

Hello dear readers :) This is the first post of 2012. The story was found last year, just a day or two before I went to Mexico to visit family. I made it my purpose to stay away from the computer and social networks as much as possible while enjoying family time, hence the lateness of the post. It sure felt good, but I also couldn’t wait to share this story with you. After enjoying awhite russian and a delish meal, I gave the leap of faith and asked him for a story. It required a leap of faith because I hadn’t done this in a while and because I’ve noticed, the most visible the tattoos of a collector, odds are said person is asked a lot about them —making the experience a bit uncomfortable.

Hoping not to come across as a tipsy, disrespectful being, I went up to him and explained the project. I’m happy I did, because what followed was a great insight into his life:

“This is my most recent tattoo. The writing says ‘Straight Edge’, I don’t know if you know what that means? No drinking, no drugs, no smoking and no promiscuous sex. It is a lifestyle I choose to live. I have the X’s all over my body, ‘Drug Free’ on my lower knuckles, an X of my throat… this was done just last Thursday.

I believe it is an awesome way to live. I’m heavily involved in hardcore music, which is where it came from. Most of my tattoos are sort of whatever, but I get a lot of Straight Edge tattoos, because it is something I chose to live by for the rest of my life.”

So there you go. I’m glad and always feel honoured when people share. We talked a bit more about tattoos and what not,  and then as usual, I thanked him and went on my way.

All the best for this new year. Take care you all, enjoy your life, respect others and have a blast!

Thanks a bunch stranger!

For all the 365+ stories, click here: astrangeraday.com