The. Most. Inked. Generation. Of. All. Time...

Let that sink in for a second... of all-time. And to be honest... I'm all in. I'm here for it. Let me willingly be a part of the most expressive generation of all time. A generation that broke the societal standard for tattoos... that is something to be proud of.

But while tattoos are generally accepted in today's society, there is still a stigma behind being the most decorated generation in history. Well, modern history.

The most interesting thing is that it is a mainly unspoken stigma. I say that because most workplaces allow tattoos. No one is declining your application for an apartment or a home because you have tattoos, there's really no rules governing them in most places as long as they aren't offensive.

Yet we still feel that sting... when interviewing for your big promotion maybe you wore long sleeves so your tattoos wouldn't show, maybe being the most tattooed mom at the PTA meeting is a label you try to avoid by making sure you are adequately covered, I get it.

As a proudly tattooed individual I definitely have found myself covering my arms at times in an effort to make myself seem more 'put together," maybe at work, or a big interview, or visiting family. The honest reality of that though... is that theory is complete and utter BULLSHIT.

Tattoos surprisingly make absolutely zero impact on whether or not my life is put together, and I am proud to express things I love on my skin in such a beautiful way.

The stigma you face by being the most tattooed generation is that people assume you are rebellious, maybe an anarchist, into partying and hardcore rock and roll, and causing a disturbance in these good Christian suburbs. But the fact of the matter is that the bravery and self-assurance to ink something on your skin and love it forever is a big deal (regret tattoos don't count here sorry folks, I'm talking about tattoos with thought and purpose).

The honest reality is those who have chosen both paths, functioning well in our times, and choosing tattoos are the reason tattoos are acceptable. Being overly tattooed proves nothing. Living a thoughtful, good life proves that not everyone with tattoos has bad intentions.

It is that self-assurance that made it acceptable in society to be a high-functioning individual and still showcase your creative side via some beautiful skin art. So keep fighting.

For every tree, for every butterfly, for every work that took a starving artist hours to complete in moments of intense, complete, focus on you and your wants, fight the good fight. Wear your colors proudly. If tattoos aren't your thing... well that's just fine too.