People express themselves in different ways. They show parts of their personalities through different forms; the way they dress, the way they talk, the music they listen to, the color and style of their hair, and the way they carry themselves in general.
Though we still judge each other based on little things such as the clothing a person chooses, we realize that they is just who they are, and we move on. They are different from us and that is weird but acceptable. But there is one thing that often gets judged harsher than others: body art (tattoos and piercings).
But slowly and unsurely, tattoos and piercings have become more prominent and accepted in our society. Piercings have been accepted more than tattoos, assuming it is because of their ability to be gotten rid of so easily. Tattoos, however, are still a problem with many people. A permanent piece of art on your body, why would anyone do that?
Tattoos have caused many people to struggle finding a job, getting to know others, and being respected in society. What people who are against tattoos do not realize, though, is that they are a part of a person's personality. They tell a story that the individuals wearing them might not be willing to tell themselves.
Tattoos are a story. To a person staring at a man covered in ink, it may look messy, stupid and questionable. But to that man each tattoo means something. It is a part of who he is, a part of his soul, part of his personality. There is a meaning behind each tattoo, even if you don't understand it. The rose on his neck might be misleading and cause you to judge, but to him, it resembles his baby sister who passed away when they were young. The lyrics written across his back may cause you to stare, but they remind him of his brother and the song they used to sing together.
Tattoos are just another way people express themselves. They use ink to show a part of their soul that would originally be hidden from the world. They take part of their soul, their dreams, their personalities and they put it into a picture on their body, for the world to see. And often times they get judged for it, ridiculed.
Just because these people decide to put ink on their body, does not make them any less respectful, intelligent or professional than any other person. They are brave and beautiful. They show part of themselves that we would never normally see, on their bodies, in broad daylight, proudly and yet, hesitantly.
Many people with tattoos will give some smart-ass answer about what their tattoo means, because just like everyone else they try to hide themselves behind a curtain of normalcy. But when you are able to break through the shell and get deeper, you will find out just how meaningful a simple tattoo can be to someone. Whether it is a memorial for a family member, something from their dreams, or a part of them that they just need to silently share with the world, discovering the significance behind tattoos can be very fascinating and eye opening.
Tattoos tell a story that the person wearing them cannot. They give a glimpse into the soul of someone beautiful. They share a story that not many people will pay attention to. They are not scary, unprofessional or trashy. They have meaning to the person who wears them around proudly for the world to see. Or perhaps, they were just a bit too drunk when they got them.
