For the last three years, I've been wanting to get a tattoo. My reasoning used to be simply that I thought it was cool and badass. But I've learned what it truly means to have a tattoo: they are permanent. Really, truly permanent. It's not just a cute heart or a rose sleeve that you can wear or take off at your leisure. It's inked into your skin and your veins forever.
So why not make it meaningful?
Just because a tattoo is permanent doesn't mean it's wrong or taboo. It simply means that when you're deciding what to make a part of your body, you have to take it seriously. A tattoo should stand as a reminder of something or someone that is important or even symbolic to you.
People get tattoos for many different reasons. Sometimes, it's to honor a person in their life. Sometimes it's a symbol, such as a peace sign or a heart to represent concepts that have significant meaning. This is what I highly take into consideration when deciding what tattoos to get.
The first tattoo I want is an anchor symbol on my ankle. The anchor represents my hometown of Marblehead, where I grew up and became the person that I am. It also represents that Marblehead is where my heart will always be anchored, no matter where in the world I go.
The second tattoo I want is the lotus flower. This tattoo is a bit larger in size, but its meaning is just as significant to me. The lotus flower is said to be sacred and represents purity. To the Egyptians, the flower represents rebirth. The lotus retracts into water at night and opens up again only when the sun comes up. The Egyptians, therefore, associated it with the sun, also disappearing at night and rising again during the day. The idea that one flower can represent so much beauty is enough meaning for me to want it as a part of my body, to remind myself of inner beauty and peacefulness.
The third and final tattoo that I want to get is tiny music notes on my ankle. This reason is fairly simple and self explanatory: music is a huge part of my life. It's a part of who I am and it will eventually become a career for me. When music becomes a stress, I hope that tiny black eighth note etched into my ankle will remind me that it is the best part of me; it is my passion and something that gives me strength.
Getting a tattoo is a big decision. But if something has significant meaning to you, don't let anyone talk you out of doing it for their own reasons. Make your own decision about what you want to do with your body. Remember that is is permanent, so be sure to put a lot of thought into what word or symbol you want to make a part of yourself for the rest of your life. But don't second guess on something that has significant meaning to you.
