Recently, I read an article about a woman who regretted a tattoo on her wrist. She regretted her decision to get a tattoo, because she felt judged and embarrassed by the people looking at it and asking questions about it.
Tattoos are a touchy subject. The word “tattoo” has such a negative connotation to so many people that it can immediately kill a first impression, among other things. According to a poll from debate.org, 80% agree that tattoos are negatively stereotyped in the United States. Individual accounts bash tattoos, saying they’re trashy, not classy, unprofessional, and unwise. I would never judge someone’s tattoo. However, people - including employers - often do so, and that’s inevitable. So a word from the wise: if you plan on having a job someday where tattoos are frowned upon, get one that you can hide.
I have three tattoos. They aren’t huge sleeves or Gucci Mane ice cream cone face tats. I have one on each foot and one on my shoulder. I can cover them up for the most part, and they aren’t too big. I got them for personal reasons, and they each mean a lot to me. They are a way to express myself, and I could not be happier to have them on my body.
Tattoos aren’t for everyone. If you can’t really make up your mind about getting one, don’t get one. Be sure that it’s something you want to do since it will be there forever. Whether the tattoo represents a story or some spontaneous act you decided to do one day, make sure you’ve thought it through.
Part of getting a tattoo is that you want people to see it; you want them to ask questions. My tattoos give me the ability to tell a complete stranger about a huge triumph in my life, and I think that’s pretty neat. Mine are between two and three years old. I know what you’re thinking: they’re still new, and you’re going to regret those years down the road. Are people going to constantly tell me I made a mistake by getting them? Yes, I can guarantee that. But I can also promise you that I will never regret them, even when I’m 75 years old. They might look different from age, and they might cause judgments from strangers, but they will always be special to me. I don’t care if they mean something to you. The events that inspired my decisions to get them will always be a part of who I am. No judgment is worth my time when I will forever love the person I was when I got my tattoos.
