These stick-and-poke tattoos are exactly what we need to get through the mess that is 2016

We’ve all sort of resigned ourselves to the fact that 2016 is a hellish thing to only be escaped with time. Like, come on. Between the disaster that is this election and also the police brutality, homophobia, and other evils that continue to plague our country, everything is a little bit bad. Luckily, though, we’ve also become more invested than ever in self care. And one form of self care that’s a wee bit more permanent? A good ol’ tattoo.

These beautiful stick-and-poke tattoos are seriously so uplifting, and we’d definitely feel better if we had a little positive body art to sneak a peek at every time we start feeling a bit down in the dumps. Here are some of our fave stick and pokes by artist Patrick Bates!

Like, check out these words of wisdom!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLOshgxAHTR

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLQ6g0dAqvR

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLBWi6dgBEp

We need them all. Stick-and-poke tattoos forever!!

These rad illustrations.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLqqvuLgfFn

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLqWc1gA8pQ

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLmMSfAAZO_

Of only the most uplifting of things.

And these.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLjb3oOAeEL

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLdo3rzAqOw

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLg0LcPFRnq

Love, love, and love.

And, of course, this amazing inspiration.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLyQVvEgdoe

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLjIBQGgGot

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLZJrPGgeHk

We feel better already, TBH.