"Don't you think you'll regret that in 25 years?"

"What do you think your future employer will see about that?"

"Why'd you get lyrics tattooed?"

"I wouldn't have gotten that if I were you"

"Do you ever think before getting your tattoos?"

"Do you realize that a tattoo is permanent?"

These are all questions I've been asked after showing people my tattoos. They never stop to ask about the meaning or significance, they never comment on the color or the artistry, and they never chose to just ignore them if they don't like them. Almost every single person I meet has something to say about my tattoo, whether that be good or bad, and unless it's a compliment, I am quite sick of hearing about it.

So to clear up some confusion, here are things I do know about my tattoos:

Yes, I know that not all work environments support tattoos. Yes, I know that 18 was young to get 6 tattoos. Yes, I know that some of my tattoos are irrational. Yes, I know that I may not necessarily like the band whose lyrics I got tattooed when I'm 50.

And yes, I know that they are permanent.

I was well aware that this ink was going to be on my skin forever while I sat and watched my artist carefully work on my skin for three and a half hours. I knew that every single time I sat down in a tattoo chair and trusted someone with the power to permanently alter my body. And you know what? I am so thankful that I did.

I love my tattoos. Everything that I have inked on my body is something that means something to me. Four of my tattoos are song lyrics and two of them are Disney related. You can think that I'm dumb for getting lyrics and Mickey Mouse tattooed and that's okay, because it's not your body.

It doesn't have to mean anything to you because it's not your body.

When somebody asks me why I got a certain lyric tattooed or criticizes me for having my entire left thigh covered, I just smile and explain the significance that it has to me. Because my tattoos do not have to mean anything to anyone but me because it's my body.

So the next time you make a snide comment or joke to someone about their tattoo I implore you to think before you speak. A lot of people have very personal connections to what they decided to get done and chances are they are so over hearing the same three questions and five jokes. Take the time to ask the person what the tattoo means to them or ask about the significance. And if there is no meaning and they just thought it looked cool, that's okay too! If it's not your body then you really don't have a say.