NEW BEGINNINGS

Life for Tracey Kilpatrick, 51, is just getting started

- MISHAAL KHAN

As the needle punctured the skin on my leg and pumped ink into it, I winced from the pain. "It will be worth it, Mum, my son, 24, winked. A tattoo artist, he'd convinced me, at 51, to get my first tattoo. It was his birthday gift to me, and as the cherry blossom and peonies began to take shape, I had to admit it looked beautiful. A few years ago, I'd have shaken my head vigorously at the idea of getting a tattoo in my 50s. I'd always admired them on other people, but never had the confidence to have one myself. But since my divorce in 2018, I'd been on a journey of change and growth and this tattoo was just another step towards the new me.

I was 46 when my husband and I split up after 24 years of marriage. By then, my sons, 19 and 14, were less reliant on me and I felt like I'd reached a crossroads in my life. I'd lost myself in my marriage and motherhood, and wasn't sure what direction to take next, but I wanted to use the opportunity to focus on myself and explore new things.

MAKING CHANGES