About 30 percent of adults have tattoos. No, not the ones you get at the drugstore that last about three days, but the ones you endure anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours of sitting under needles. A lot of people have mixed views on tattoos, though. Some may call them “trashy” or “unprofessional” or a “mistake.” And of course they say, “You’re going to regret that when you're older.” And maybe that's true. Maybe people will regret their tattoos, but me on the other hand? I will not. My tattoo is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
From a young age I have always looked at tattoos as a piece of wearable artwork and I had always had a passion for all types of arts. I’d look at full sleeves, or even delicate tattoos only big enough to see up close, and ask all about them. To me, tattoos were the coolest thing. They were creative, colorful, detailed and most of the time, had a pretty neat story to go alone with it. Therefore, being the creative little kid I was, I knew when I got older I was bound to get one for myself. But then, there was the criticism. As I got older I would marvel at tattoos, and hear my friends say, “I hate them, they make people look so bad.” I’ve even had boyfriends tell me that tattoos change people and they think they're horrible, without even knowing I wanted one myself. This made me rethink everything.
However, like most people, when I got older, I learned something. Something called “not caring”. Everyone around me who had a negative connotation had no effect on the decisions I was making. I completely tuned out all of the people that wanted to have a say in it. This is my body. I know the consequences, I know the risks; trust me. I am planning on becoming a lawyer. I know it’s going to have to be covered. I. Don’t. Care. So, with this mindset, my freshman year of college, I picked up my sketch and marched to the tattoo parlor with pride.
My tattoo has a lot of personal meaning to me. It consists of three mandalas going down my spine. And though I’ll never be able to see it, catching glimpses of it in the mirror make my day, because everyday it reminds me of something. I got my tattoo when I did because after suffering from an array of different issues in my life, I told myself when I know I’m strong enough to handle anything, I’ll get this tattoo. Mandalas are strong and structured, yet almost every one is different. They represent my journey of self awareness and becoming my own person through the obstacles I have overcome. Most importantly, my tattoo represents me. And everyday I am reminded of how much it means to me and how if I, with a very low pain tolerance, can sit under a needle for two and a half hours, I can do anything.
Ever since getting my tattoo, my confidence has been boosted and my life has been a lot better. And no, I do not care if you think it is too big, and no, I do not care if you hate it. I love it. And I believe that every person that takes the time to get a tattoo permanently placed on their body should love it and show it off too. It is a unique mark that tells a story. What’s yours?
