For the past few years now, I have been toying with the idea of a tattoo. I know that I want a tattoo, yet like so many others before me, I continue to find myself caught up by all the baggage that comes with permanently marking the skin.
The Placement
So much body, so little… body? Right now, I have my sights set on grad school, and that means that I have to be able to look professional. I would like to think that the schools I want to be a part of would not judge me based on my appearance, but I know that is probably wishful thinking.
I have been pinterest-ing my fair share of “24 perfect places to hide a tattoo” and “13 secret tattoo spots”. Yet, as I scroll through the images, I keep thinking to myself that this tattoo is going to be a part of me. And like all of my scars and birthmarks, they tell a story about me. In a very reductive way, this tattoo could be seen as an intentional scarring of the skin—and if I don’t have to hide my unintentional scars, why should I have to hide my intentional ones?
Aging
Just like how I am concerned with the placement of my tattoo, I am also trying to imagine how different areas of the body age and how this will affect my tattoo. Heck, I have even googled “old tattooed people”, just to see if I would get anything of use.
The result? It is impossible for me to tell how a tattoo will age. Unfortunately, I must accept that there is no truly accurate way to predict how much or in what ways my body will soften over time, and where the first signs of skin sag will happen. All that I know is that my skin will loosen up over time. So how will this affect a tattoo? I have no idea.
The Meaning
Image Source
Lastly, the meaning of the tattoo. Ah yes, the supposedly most important part. As I have gotten older and many of my friends have gotten inked, the question of, “But what does it mean?” is always sure to make an appearance. In some ways, I agree that tattoos should have a meaning. I mean, they are a permanent fixture on your body and looking at something day after day will be more enjoyable in the long term if there is a significance attached to it.
Yet, I also hold the opinion that tattoos might not always need to have a significant meaning. After all, shouldn’t the fact that something is aesthetically pleasing be reason enough? Tattoos are an art form, and although for some, the significance of the piece is the most important part, it is firstly an image inked onto the skin. The picture is the first thing a person sees, and it should be ok that a picture is all that it is.
