I have three tattoos and I love them. But when people ask me what they signify, my answers don't always satisfy them. A lot of people get tattoos to commemorate a person, a moment, or something special to them, but I’m too indecisive to choose one meaningful thing. That may sound dumb since indecisiveness and permanent tattoos don’t seem like they would result in the best choices, but my tattoos reflect more than a story. They represent a sense of individuality that makes me comfortable in my own skin.

Could I make up a heart-warming story about how the tiny flower on the back of my neck symbolizes my growth in college? Sure! I just did. Did you like it? Great! Sometimes I do make up a story because a lot of people don’t understand why I would get a tattoo that doesn't have a lasting significance. I don’t always feel like explaining that there is no explanation, or at least not one that they need to know about. But if you asked me to explain why exactly I have a tiny flower behind my neck or a small pine tree on wrist, it’s because I think it's pretty and it makes me feel pretty. To me, that feels significant enough. Just because my tattoos don’t hold meanings that make sense to you, doesn’t mean that I regret them or think any less of them as time goes on. Do I wake up some days and say ugh why did I get this? Honestly, no! Sometimes I forget they’re even there. They have become an extension of my personality and it makes me feel cool. That may be cliché; it totally is, but it's true. You should do what makes you feel cool and comfortable in your skin because you are the only one who has to live in it.

Am I encouraging people to go and get tattoos? Yes and no. I highly encourage thinking about it because it is a big decision, and a mature one at that. However, I also think that if you are mature enough to take control of your own body, you owe yourself the step of thinking everything over twice. But refraining from that, tattoos, regardless of meaning, are personal because they are literally on your person, and represent an extension of yourself to the world. Someone will always like your tattoo and someone will always make you feel judged for having it, but that’s no different in any other aspect of self-appearance. In a way, all tattoos have some meaning. Even though I didn’t get three dots on the side of my wrist to represent some greater figure, in a way, my tattoos represent the marking of some form of creativity on my body and represent me giving myself permission to take control of how I feel about my body and my appearance. Be it big, small, or still undiscovered, tattoos mean something different to everyone and you should wear yours with confidence because when you feel good, you look good.