During the summer, I decided to get a tattoo. I was never really a "tattoo person" until one of my friends showed me a picture of an elephant tattoo on Pinterest, and I was definitely into it. I've always loved elephants, and I'm not sure why really, I just have. There's not really any hidden meaning behind it, no one in my life inspired me to get it, I just thought it was really cool. After thinking about it for a year or so, I decided to do it. I was more than happy with the outcome, I loved it! I was so excited to show it off to everyone until the same question kept coming up, "What does it mean?"

At first, I felt like I needed to give an answer because if i didn't, then people would think poor of me. If I said I had no reason, people would think I was just a dumb college student who did something spontaneous, just another one crying for attention or if I didn't get it in memory of someone, it was pointless. Eventually, I stopped lying and told people the truth: There is no meaning behind my tattoo. I like elephants. Isn't that enough? I loved the detail and shading the artist did in the picture and thought it was beautiful, so that is why I got it. I hear every day about how people say they would only get a tattoo if it meant something, and that makes no sense to me. That should not be the only reason someone gets a tattoo. Whatever happened to people expressing themselves? There are so many ways to do that, and having a tattoo is one of them.

Now, I am not saying getting a tattoo that does have meaning to it is boring or stupid. I think it's amazing if you want to do that, I'm just saying that is not the only reason you should get one. People assume you're going to give them some long spiel about what every detail of their tattoo is. It's my body, so I'm entitled to do whatever I want to it. I wouldn't sit in a chair for three hours with a needle going in and out of my skin if I wasn't passionate about what I was getting. I absolutely love my tattoo, and that should be the only thing that matters. "What are you going to do when you're like 70 years old?" Um, I'm going to be a 70 year old lady with a bomb ass elephant on her back. What kind of question is that? Something tells me I'm not going to be wearing many tube tops when I'm 70 years old, anyway. Regardless, if I have a specific meaning to my tattoo, I will tell you, trust me. Just remember that not everyone has a meaning behind their tattoo, so don't look at us like we're crazy when we say "just because."