Today, it's not uncommon to find a good bit of body art among those in the Millennial generation. Tattoos have recently started gracing the bodies of people from all races, religions, and walks of life. Basically, tattoos are no longer just for rebels.
As times have changed, so have the views on ink and the people who have body art. As those in the generation known as the Millennials, myself included, have grown into young adults, we've been exposed to a higher acceptance of tattoos. An increasing number of those in Generation Y have also chosen to add some art to their bodies.
Tattoos are bigger than ever before, and are even beginning to be considered "mainstream." Movie stars and music artists alike have started showing more ink than they ever have, and it seems that the rest of us have joined them. For me, tattoos are so much more than just a trend or a way to spite my parents. I believe a lot of people will agree with me when I say that, to me, tattoos are a way to express who I am and what I stand for. They are an extension of my heart, my soul, and my brain. Every person is different, and so their tattoos come into existence for different reasons.
Some people chose to get tattoos in remembrance of someone they lost, while other people get tattoos to celebrate the life they have been given. As the proud owner of a couple of tattoos myself, I find that my ink represents the parts of myself that I want to be reminded of each and every day. I got my tattoos with certain ideas in mind: strength, courage, love, family, individuality, and passion for the things I do. While some people get inked with those same concepts in mind, others choose their tattoos for reasons unique to them.
I found a quote that describes my mentality toward tattoos perfectly.
"I have chosen my tattoos carefully. Look closely. As tools, they may grant you a glimpse into the human I am. Equally, they may shield me from what you are if you cannot see beyond the colors inked into my skin." -Anonymous
No two people have the exact same tattoo. Sure, they could have the same design in the same place, but they didn't get it for the same reason. Tattoos make us stand out while fitting in at the same time. There are some who choose to hide behind their tattoos, allowing the ink to become a mask to hide parts of themselves from the world. There are also those who use their tattoos to broadcast who they are to the world. In either case, the tattoos help many feel confident in who they are and who they have become.
Most importantly, tattoos are a way for us to connect. Every tattoo tells a story of love, loss, triumph, or failure. They remind us of the times in our lives that we didn't think we could overcome but survived anyways. They remind us that we have lived and we have experienced life. Each story told by every piece of art is a way for us to connect with each other and grow.
Not everyone is a fan of tattoos, though. I still get dirty looks now and then because of mine. But it doesn't matter, because to me, my tattoos tell the story of someone who has lived. I look at all body art as something my generation uses to express who we are and what we have done. They will always carry a deeper meaning for me than just pictures on skin. They will always represent a generation that isn't afraid to be vulnerable by putting pieces of ourselves on display for the world to see.
