Everyone has their opinions on tattoos. People get praised for them and people get discriminated for having them. I got my first tattoo when I was 18. It’s on my inner bicep and I am proud to show it to the world. I get many mixed reactions for my tattoo, and get even more reactions when I say I want to get more. Most of these reactions come from people of an older generation that have a more conservative mindset. It has been pointed out to me many times that tattoos are a big commitment and that they are unprofessional. But listen, times are changing. Tattoos are starting to become a normal thing in this world and I think it’s just great. People’s personal style choices should be accepted more, and this includes the permanent ink that laces peoples skin.
One thing that drives me crazy about this world is that people can’t be left to act as an individual. Why is it a bad thing that I got a tattoo in a visible spot? Why is a person looked at differently if they have sleeves of tattoos on their arms? Tattoos don’t define a person. I hear comments all of the time about how people won’t hire me as I get more tattoos, how too many won’t look good, how it will look terrible when I’m older, how it’s very unprofessional, etc. And frankly, I don’t care what anyone thinks about it. Tattoos do not affect my personality in any way. They don’t alter my work ethic either. Maybe it’s the millennial in me talking, but I don’t think tattoos affect me in anyway except for the fact that there is art added to my body.
I believe that tattoos are works of art, and people should decorate their bodies however they please. If you don’t want any, good for you. If you want to cover your arms in ink, good for you. Your body belongs to you, and not anyone else. Don’t let the judgment of other people discourage you from doing what you want. And if that means getting a tattoo or something that you know you’ll enjoy seeing for the rest of your life, then go for it.
I was asked one time why I had a tattoo. After answering, I was given an unsettling nod and no matter how hard they tried to hide it, the look of disapproval couldn’t be masked. I then asked back, “why don’t you have any tattoos?”, to which he responded, “because my body is a temple, and I wouldn’t deface it with things like that”. With that, I said “well, my body is also a temple, and I will decorate as I please”.
Tattoos are done for many different reasons. It can mark a memory or represent something that has a lot of meaning to you. Or it can just simply be a style choice. Whatever the reason for your ink, as long as your happy with the way you see yourself at the end of the day does anything else really matter?
