When it comes to talking about tattoos, most people cite their reason for not getting one as this: it’s permanent.

A lot of people choose not to get a tattoo because they’re indecisive. They change their mind about things quickly. The idea of getting something, an image, symbol, quote, whatever, permanently etched into their skin is scary, because if they don’t like those shoes they bought last month anymore, how can they be sure that they’ll still love their tattoo in five years?

Others will say that tattoos won’t age well. This isn’t false, exactly, because some tattoos, if done poorly or done too small, will end up looking like an awkwardly distorted version of the original design. However, if you have a good artist, they’ll make sure that A, they don’t do a bad job on it, and B, that it won’t end up looking like a giant blob in a year or two.

If you ask me, when it comes to permanently altering your skin, it’s important to make sure you’re having someone who knows what they’re doing permanently alter your skin. Research your tattoo artist and shop to make sure you’re not going to end up with a distorted version of what you want.

I will admit, though, the idea of possibly changing my mind about the quote or image that I have tattooed did frighten me at first. It’s like, what if in 10 years, I don’t love Friends as much as I do now, so getting that image of Chandler Bing’s face drawn into my skin might not be a wise choice, right?

To me, I feel like tattoos can be souvenirs and mementos of who you were when you got the tattoo. If it was important to me at the time, it doesn’t matter if it’s not important to me in a few years. I can still appreciate it as some piece of nostalgia for who I used to be.

It kind of feels like an old playlist, in a way. Those songs, you chose them to put into a playlist because you loved them. Listening to the playlist from middle school can bring back memories of what was going on in your life at the time of you putting together the playlist. Tattoos are almost like a way to remember.

On top of being a keepsake for the different journeys you take in life, tattoos are literal body art. A person with tattoos is like a walking art gallery. It’s really cool, if you think about it. Asking people about their tattoos can really help you get to know them, as well, because their tattoos often (not always) represent something that is very important to them.

Some people choose to dress a certain way to express themselves. Others use their words to showcase who they are. Some may paint their feelings onto a canvas. Tattoos are just another way to get a message out into the world, only they last as long as your body does.