I love my tattoos. Everyone who has them says this--well, mostly everyone--but it's still so true. I love how they represent my life and the experiences I've had and that led me to getting them. They remind me of people and events that I will never forget for the rest of my life.

I haven't experienced the stereotypical judgement about my tattoos (unless you count my mom giving me a look when I talk about them). I've never been scolded or told I'm ridiculous for choosing to have these permanent pieces of art on my body. If anything, I've been complimented for them. I've even been called brave for having them.

There is an element of bravery in getting tattoos. For one, you have ink injected in your skin by many tiny needles which is not the most comforting feeling in the world. For some, it's the most painful experience in the world. For me, it was almost like nothing. Believe it or not, I almost took a nap while I was getting my first one which is on my ribs--which might say a lot about my pain tolerance. However, I don't think you should be considered brave for getting a tattoo. It's not as if you've completed a gargantuan task that we all have to go through in life.

But then again, I do think the bravery comes from the comments you're confronted with afterwards. Sometimes people can be fascinated and genuinely intrigued by your tattoos as well as their meaning. Yet there are also the people who just mean to be assholes. You get comments such as "don't you know those are permanent" and "wow so how much are you going to spend to get those removed". Your mom might comment "how are those going to look when you get older?" as if that's going to be at the forefront of her thoughts when you reach your next birthday.

But at the end of the day, I don't regret my tattoos. Sure I got them all within a year but I've known how I wanted to decorate my body since I can remember. I don't regret the time and money it took for them to appear on my body because they are reminders of what I have accomplished and overcome in my life. They will remind me of the places I've been and where my home will always be. They remind me to be strong and have faith in everything whether it be religious or not. They remind me that I have a passion that fuels me every day and that my story is never over. Sometimes they feel like a little secret and it delights me that I can see them while others can't.

If anything, my tattoos are representatives of who I am as a person. They are my art and they've always been a part of me even before they were created. And if my future children want tattoos as a way to express themselves, I'll definitely support them. It would be hypocritical of me not to but also I don't want to stifle their way of creative expression.

I love my tattoos. And I love yours. So don't be ashamed of them. Never be ashamed of yourself or your art.