Self expression comes in many different forms. Tattoos have existed for hundreds of years, and will continue to exist for hundreds more. Whether you have one of your own or are against the concept entirely, shaming those who made that choice for themselves is ignorant and selfish.

This past summer I decided to get a tattoo on my wrist. Having flown the earth for over 300 million years, dragonflies symbolize our ability to overcome times of hardship. They can remind us to take time to reconnect with our own strength, courage, and happiness. I won't bore you with the depressing details, but I had a pretty crappy senior year of high school. My parents got divorced, and I never saw it coming. It turned my life upside down and it took me quite a while to get back up on my feet.

After leaving for college, I grew up a lot. I think that I was really able to find myself and overcome all of the sadness that I had dwelled on for so long. When I finally realized that I was okay, that this wasn't the end of the world, and that I had so many amazing doors to still be opened in front of me, I felt proud. I was proud of myself for overcoming something that put me through hell, and I wanted to be reminded of that feeling. Every time I look down at my wrist, I'm reminded of my worth and of my strength.

I've received mixed opinions on my tattoo, but after I explain what it means to me, most people appreciate it and are able to see the beauty of it. However, there have been a few people in my life who have gone out of their way to openly judge me for making the decision to put something permanent on my body. Now, most people would just shake it off, but overly sensitive me cares too much about the opinions of the people that I care about.

Here's the thing: you are completely free to think what you want about the fact that I have ink on my body, but what gives you the right to verbalize that you "lost respect for me" or were "upset with me" when I made this decision? Who are you to judge something that makes me feel confident and strong?

In the grand scheme of things, the opinions of others really has no effect on me or my life. But if you are going to call yourself my friend, the least that you could do is be supportive. Be supportive of the fact that I made this decision. I really don't think that that the small dragonfly on my wrist should impact your life in any way. But if it bothers you that much, you should probably work on your issues before you go pointing fingers at my "flaws."

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that the tattoo I wanted was going to be on me forever, I would definitely be rich. You don't think that I'm well aware of that? Human beings should be able to do whatever they damn well please and still be respected, and I am sick and tired of that being hindered by others' ideas of how people should present themselves.

I hate to break it to you, but you do not have authority on the definition of right and wrong. What you may see to be "unprofessional" means the world to me. The fact that you wouldn't have made the same decision doesn't make the decision that I made wrong, it just means you're a different person with a different opinion, and that should be okay.

Long story short, if you don't have a tattoo, you know and probably love someone who does. They are not any less of a person because they decided to get a tattoo. If you wouldn't want someone to judge you for your choices, don't judge someone else for theirs.