"First Tattoo in Mumbai: Embracing the City's Spirit"
How a Music Video Inspired My Journey to India
Before I ever became Mr. JetSetInk, I watched a music video that would plant a seed in my heart.
Drake’s God’s Plan showed him walking through stores giving away groceries and money with zero expectations. It was raw, real, and full of heart. That one grocery store scene hit me hard. I thought: What if I could do something like that?
So I packed my bags and flew to Mumbai, India — not to sightsee, not to vacation, but to give back.
Charity, My Way: Giving From the Heart
For about 2 to 3 months, I did my version of charity work. No sponsors, no cameras, just me. Mumbai’s mom-and-pop shops were filled with insane deals like:
Buy one shirt, get seven free.
Buy one pair of slippers, get four free.
I bought in bulk and gave everything away. It felt good, and it felt right. That was how I spent my early days in India — giving, learning, absorbing.
A City of Extremes
One day, after walking the streets for hours, I got hungry. I stopped to chat with a street food vendor. I told him about my experiences in Mumbai: the good, the beautiful, and the deeply heartbreaking.
Mumbai is a city of extremes. On one side of the street, you might find a Ferrari dealership. On the other side, people digging through the sidewalk just to get water to drink.
And yet — here’s what blew my mind:
They were smiling. They were laughing. They were joyful.
I told the vendor how shocked I was by the happiness I saw in people who had almost nothing.
That’s when he said something that would stick with me for life:
“Mumbai isn’t a city… it’s an emotion.”
The Birth of My First Tattoo
Those words hit me so hard, I decided to make them permanent. That exact phrase became my first tattoo. This isn’t just my first Mumbai tattoo, this is the first tattoo and 194 countries to go! A journey that will span thousands of miles and flights has officially begun.
And what was the emotion? Gratitude.
The kind that doesn’t need perfect conditions. The kind that finds beauty in struggle. The kind that shows up in street vendors and water-seekers alike. That is the emotional connection to Mumbai that I have.
Reverse Culture Shock and the Power of Gratitude
When I came back to the U.S., I couldn’t shake the feeling. Everything felt fast, loud, and material. I started going to church again, and one day, a pastor gave a sermon that tied it all together.
He spoke about gratitude.
From that day forward, I began saying something every morning:
“Thank you, Lord, for the life I live. It may not be perfect, but it’s still a really good one.”
I said it on good days. I said it on hard ones. That simple line became my foundation.
Look At Me Now
That mindset carried me through tough times — especially in college. Gratitude gave me perspective, endurance, and joy.
Now I’m living a life that many dream about: traveling the world, getting tattoos in every country, and telling stories that matter.
All of it began with one trip. One tattoo. One emotion.
Gratitude.
"My first tattoo, inked in the heart of Mumbai."
