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5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting My First Tattoo Because There's No Going Back

The good, the bad, and the ugly...

Elvira Makk Frid

Aug 06, 2019

Florida State University

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https://pixabay.com/photos/tattoo-tattoo-artist-body-drawing-1843640/

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Ever since I became a teenager, I was set on the idea of getting a tattoo. My mom has several, and my sister got her first one when she was 18, so I felt like it was a right of passage for me to also get one. For years I bounced back and forth between ideas of what I wanted to get, but could never think of something that truly felt right.

For a while, I even backed away from the idea of getting one (much to my dad's delight). However, one day, an idea of what I wanted hit me out of nowhere. I booked an appointment at a tattoo studio after much research and waited to be tatted up.

Getting a tattoo wasn't as big of a deal as I thought it would be. My tattoo has a lot of personal meaning to me, and now that it's on me forever, I can honestly say I will never regret getting it. Here are five things I learned from the experience.

1. Research is important

Before I seriously began planning my tattoo, I never realized how much research went into it. I spent hours deciding where I wanted it, who I wanted to do it, and what I wanted a tattoo of. Tattoos will stay on you forever, so you have to be sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

2. Don't rush it

Since my parents told me I couldn't get a tattoo until I was 18, I felt like I had to get one as soon as I turned 18. Even though I don't regret my decision whatsoever, looking back on it I was a little rushed to get my first tattoo. I'm super happy with how it came out, but if I decided to tattoo any of the other 1,000 ideas that ran through my head, I would not have been as happy.

3. You won't know how much it hurts until you get it done

Before I got mine done, I asked everyone I knew with tattoos how much it would hurt. Everyone gave me different answers, and I was super nervous that I would be crying out in pain. Depending on where you get your tattoo done, and how high your pain tolerance is, it hurts differently for everyone. Luckily for me, mine wasn't bad at all!

4. Half the time, you won't even think about your tattoo

My tattoo is a little bigger than the size of my palm, but most of the time, I forget that I even have it. I love looking at it and being reminded of the meaning behind it, but I think about it much less than I thought I would. I always believed getting a tattoo would be my new defining factor, but that's far from the truth. It blends in with the rest of me!

5. You'll get both positive and negative comments on your tattoo

Even though almost everyone who says something about my tattoo does it to compliment me, I have had people close to me tell me future employers won't like it, or it's too big, etc. So many people today have tattoos, and people will always be quick to tell you their opinions. The only one who can decide what you do with your body is you, so don't let other's get to you!

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25 Beatles Lyrics: Your Go-To Guide for Every Situation

The Best Lines from the Fab Four

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Recommended for you

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting My First Tattoo Because There's No Going Back

The good, the bad, and the ugly...

1. Research is important

2. Don't rush it

3. You won't know how much it hurts until you get it done

4. Half the time, you won't even think about your tattoo

5. You'll get both positive and negative comments on your tattoo

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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