Some people say that when you make an important decision in your life, you will live to regret it. Most decisions made at a young age tend to be more frowned upon than those made by adults. But if the adult in question is, say, 18-23, his/her decision is somehow less valid than that of someone older.

My question to you is this: at what age is a person’s lifestyle decisions valid? At 19, the choices I make are constantly ridiculed and diminished due to my age. However, in the eyes of the law, I am completely an adult. If I can vote for the president and fight our nation’s wars, why can’t I choose my major or get a tattoo without the sky falling?

The leading argument thus far: “You’ll regret it.” Can anyone explain to me exactly how they know me personally well enough to know exactly how I will feel in the upcoming 50 years? The answer is a simple “no” any way you look at it. Who are you to tell me what and how I will feel in the years to come? Whoever I ask, it always seems to come down to age.

“You’re not old enough to know you’ll want that forever.” Well, when will I be? When I’m sixty years old, and my skin is no longer fit to be inked, will I then be able to honestly and definitely say that this specific tattoo was what I wanted? Would I not then regret waiting so long? Logic dictates that I should do the things I enjoy while I’m young enough to enjoy them.

But you know, I am not here to defend my choices or have an imaginary argument with you, dear reader. I am here to explain a little bit about regret to you.

Regret. It’s a word tainted by its very meaning. Billions of people all across the world have things that they regret, be that getting a tattoo, dating this person, living this life. Regret takes its evil shape in too many minds across the world.

I may be young, but I know what I believe in and why I believe in it. I don’t believe in regret. Everything I have done or has been done to me, it has all made me who I am. While not all of it has been good, it has all made me, me. And if I could do it all again, I absolutely would. Every gruesome, embarrassing, and depressing moment. Because at the end of the day, it has all made me who I am. Maybe, if a faraway life, I will look back on my tattoos and wistfully sigh, wishing I could change this or that. But honestly, I doubt it. If it makes me happy now, if I live for years enjoying the art on my skin, then I will never come to regret it.

We are all different people. I am different than you, and you are different than me. Every choice I make contributes to my character development. And in the end, when I am old and decrepit, when my tattoos have changed and morphed, I know I will look at them with fond memories. Because I lived my life without holding back in fear of what others may think. My choices make me who I am, and in the end, I am damn proud of the person I am. I am proud to be me.