14% of all Americans have tattoos. 36% of 18-25 year olds have one or more tattoos, and 40% of 26-40 year olds do as well. Even though I don't completely trust statistics, these were taken this year and give us a general overview of who is getting tattoos - and it's quite a few of us.

Tattoos are incredible works of art. They fill our blank canvases with meaning, memories, color, and symbolism. They represent who we are (maybe), and mirror stages of our lives. Our bodies are an active timeline, and tattoos only add to it.

Tattoos are often beautiful. They are strange, and they are odd. They can be uncomfortable and weird. But they are a symbol of commitment. A decision. Many people do extensive research on where they will get their tattoo, the artist who will do it, where, and then decide when. Sometimes there is a reason why; sometimes there is not.

There is a lot of controversy about tattoos, for example, in the Jewish religion. Some say you can not be buried in a Jewish cemetery if you have tattoos. I personally have a tattoo on my left wrist of a yin-yang symbol, and people have asked me how I feel about it, being Jewish. I say that I understand where they are coming from, but that I have decided that I do not want to let where I am buried when I die to determine what I can and can not do in my life. It may sound harsh, but it's only my view. Also, as far as the research I've done, it turns out its a myth. You can be buried with a tattoo in a Jewish cemetery .

I also understand that different cultures have different expectations and standards when it comes to tattoos. Many religions forbid them. In ancient India, girls were tattooed using a painful process, and the tattoos were then infected, to ward off tribes that abducted females. Some tattoo themselves for marriage, some for their afterworld, and some to show their strong belief in magic. In ancient Egypt, some women were tattooed to show their fertility, and others to express their belonging to a tribe.

Today, many people in America have tattoos. Whether you're in college or 85, it is still exhilarating and exciting. Many people do not feel the same way, though.

I've seen an old woman walk up to my friend at work, who has numerous tattoos all over her body, and say straight to her face: "I just don't understand why anyone would ever do that to their body. If my child ever did that..." It bothers me when I hear things like this. Who asked for your opinion? No one. Does your approval matter? Probably not. Will your opinion change my mind on whether or not to keep or get my tattoo(s)? Not really. It's actually kind of rude. I wonder why so many people judge others for their tattoos instead of opening up and trying to appreciate the art.

But I get it. Different people were raised different ways. If you don't like my tattoo, that's okay. If you tell me you don't like it, I will ask why, because I am interested. I see plenty of people all the time with tattoos I would not get myself, but I always wonder about their story. Why did they get the tattoo, and how come in the place that they did? It's very interesting, and you can learn a lot from a person this way! I suggest asking these questions next time you see a tattoo that intrigues you, or one you don't particularly like. Every one has a story, whether it is sentimental, or has to do with a late night spontaneous adventure. Feel free to share yours!