I've always wanted tattoos. I think they are a beautiful way to express yourself. And they can be anything! A piece of art, an image reminiscent of a good memory, a random ketchup bottle or your favorite food. The beautiful part is that you get to decide what you want. You don't have to answer to anyone else. It is a way to dive deeper into your personality in beautiful colors.
As someone who has fought her way out of the box others have put her in, I always jump at the chance to express myself in some way. I cut my hair, I dye it ridiculous colors and I get tattoos. I was the weirdo that made a list of tattoos I wanted when I was bored in high school. I dreamt of the day I could finally get one. In retrospect, I am beyond thankful that I had the common sense to wait until I was legal. I avoided being like my friends who got smeared ink in someone's basement.
I got my first one when I was 18 and I've never looked back. They are insanely addictive, and in just in three weeks I got two and I am currently getting two more as I type this. So, it should be no surprise that I am dumbfounded when people think I care about their opinion on my tattoos. I get the same questions every time from an array of people. Young, old, black, white; it doesn't matter. "But aren't you afraid what they'll look like when you get old?" "But what if you hate it in the future?" "But ladies don't have tattoos." "But...but..." But why is this any of your concern? I don't care if you don't like it; your opinion never crossed my mind when I got it. And must I constantly explain what it means? I really don't want to tell you my life story in line at Costco's.
We are living in a new world where tattoos aren't taboo anymore and I'm so glad. But there still remains a large portion of closed-minded people who desperately want you to know that you've made a poor life decision. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but that doesn't give you the right to judge others. What do you gain from telling people that the meaningful ink they dropped major cash on is inappropriate or a waste of time? You never know what kind of battle someone is fighting and that tattoo could be their reminder that life is worth living.
We all get inked for our own specific reasons and it is our right to get them. Tattoos started as a popular ritual in the Navy, yet somehow people treat them as a badge of dishonor. Respect the person, respect the art and stop asking me if I regret it -- I never will.
