As an adult, I have the wonderful opportunity to express myself in any way I please, and one of those ways is through tattoos. While I have spent the past three years thinking of new, creative tattoos to mark times in my life, I still can’t help but feel like I have so many more ideas. While I have not gotten any huge pieces done, I do have a few small ones that I feel are incredibly important, but they do come with a grain of salt.
When I make the decision to get a new tattoo, it does not come without heavy consideration… which is completely ignored by some when I unveil my new tattoos. While I feel confident in my decision to put something on my body permanently, there is always someone asking about my motives, or what I’m going to do when I grow up and want a job. This is probably the most annoying thing about having tattoos.
Since the beginning of tattoos, I’m sure there has always been that one person who has to rain on the parade with an “Are you sure?” or a “Don’t you think you’ll regret that in the future?” and I can only hope that this has been met with an intense eye-roll, not a verbal response. When I am asked whether or not I regret my tattoos, my answer is always a swift “no.”
When I think of a new tattoo, I always make sure it will not only make me happy but be appropriate and fit in with my aesthetic. No matter what my tattoo happens to be, (*cough* *cough* like a Star Wars-inspired arm piece) it is only acted upon once I know, for sure, that it will make me happy. Most of my tattoos are decided on in a time where they seem relevant. While this may not be the best method, I love the fact that I feel passionate enough about something to make it permanently displayed on my body. I do not look at my tattoos at something I will regret, but markers for certain milestones in my life.
While some may worry about employment opportunities in the future and the impact their tattoos will have on it, I am hopeful. If this generation is capable of making great thing happen in terms of equality and acceptance, I’m sure tattoos will not be an issue. Besides, just in case, I never get tattoos below my elbows because I have lawyer aspirations and a wealth of pant-suits in my future.
While I love the idea of being rebellious, the thought that I would endure a needle stabbing me at hyper speed for something I did not really want is absolutely preposterous. Tattoos hurt, but the reward is incredible. Whether it is a dedication to music or my mom’s birth year, my tattoos are incredibly important to me. So, the next time you may want to criticize someone’s tattoo, take a step back, trust in their judgment and offer a compliment instead.
