We recently had the chance to connect with Taylor Menzies and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Taylor, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Honestly, my mornings are my favorite part of the day. They’ve become such a huge part of my mental health routine, and I really protect that time. I’m definitely an early morning person – I’m usually up around 5:30 or 6 – and the first thing I do is take my dog out. It’s a nice way to wake up and get a bit of quiet before the world starts moving.
Once I’m back, I’ll make a coffee, sit on the couch, and spend about ten minutes journaling. I always include affirmations and a bit of manifesting – it’s something I’ve done almost every day for the past five years. It’s been such a game changer in how grounded I feel, and it’s wild looking back at all the things I’ve written that have actually come to life.
After that, I usually catch up on a few emails or do some admin work while it’s still quiet, and then I’ll head to the gym or work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name’s Taylor Menzies – I’m a tattoo artist, content creator, and recently stepping into modeling, which has been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time but never fully had the confidence to pursue. I started Ink is Therapy as a way to combine creativity and self-expression with something deeper -showing that tattoos can be a powerful part of healing and reclaiming your body.
As a childhood abuse survivor, my journey has been about turning pain into purpose and choosing to show up as myself – imperfect, funny, and real. Whether it’s through tattooing, connecting with people, or the new spaces I’m exploring creatively, my goal is to keep growing, taking up space, and reminding others that they can too.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Definitely self-doubt and imposter syndrome – the people closest to me would probably say the same thing. I’m really good at being my own biggest critic, which in some ways has pushed me to grow and keep learning, but it can also be mentally exhausting. I think a lot of us deal with that more than we admit.
Another thing I’ve been learning to let go of this past year is taking things personally. People often react from their own insecurities or projections, and when you’re online or running a business, you really see that firsthand. It’s not always easy, but shifting my perspective to see those moments as opportunities to grow or understand someone else better has felt like such a weight off my shoulders.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of judgment – which is kind of ironic since I literally share my life on the internet. I used to care way too much about what people might think, like, “what if this is cringe?” or “what if they make fun of me?” That mindset held me back from posting, trying new things, and taking risks in my career for a long time.
In my experience, especially within the tattoo industry, there can be this unspoken idea of what a tattoo artist “should” look like or focus on. And when you also do things like content creation (or “influencing,” as people like to call it), it’s not always viewed the same way. I don’t take that personally anymore – I get that everyone has their own perspective – but I’ve stopped letting that fear hold me back. At the end of the day, I’m doing something I love and building a life that makes me happy – and if someone wants to judge that, that’s on them. That’s show biz, baby.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think about this all the time – and honestly, I hope so. My goal has always been to show up online as real and authentic as possible. I share my story because it’s part of who I am, and if it helps even one person feel seen or validated, that means everything to me. Those messages from people who’ve been through similar experiences truly fill my cup.
That said, I’ve done a lot of healing, and I don’t live in that version of myself anymore. It’s still part of my story, just not my whole identity. In person, I’m a pretty silly, goofy gal – I love to laugh and not take life too seriously. I try to show all sides of me – the healing, the humor, the hustle, the chaos – and I hope people feel that when they come across my page or my work.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I’d stop giving my energy to anything or anyone that doesn’t make me feel like the best, happiest, and most fulfilled version of myself. Life’s way too short to keep watering things that drain you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Inkistherapy.ca
- Instagram: Ink.is.therapy
- Other: TikTok:
Inkistherapy
Image Credits
@shotbydevan
@keiranfoster
@tay.braithwaite
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