“As the lotus rises on it’s stalk unsoiled by the mud and water, so the wise one speaks of peace and is unstained by the opinions of the world”
Lotus flowers are known for rising above their surroundings to become something beautiful and pure, unmarked by their less-than-ideal process of growth. Because of the symbolism, they have always resonated with me.
Many people can relate this meaning to their own lives in one way or another. For my best friend Bree and I, it is easy to tie the meaning back into our personal lives.
Last weekend, we decided to get matching tattoos of lotus flowers.
I had been wanting to get a tattoo for years, but between my intense fear of needles and wavering levels of commitment to a design, I could never get myself to do it. I would make plans, and then talk myself right out of them.
Bree already had a tattoo, and told me that the pain would be bearable. That was all it really took to convince me to go through with it this time.
We had talked about getting tattoos before, so it wasn’t like we went out on an impulse and got them. However, we weren’t planning to get them until the following weekend. Our only plan for that night was to get laundry done - not to drive thirty minutes out of the way to a tattoo shop where the owners were discussing their favorite snuff films when we arrived.
Getting a small, girly design tattooed in a room where there were jars of human organs less than five feet away was one hell of a juxtaposition. It was not what I expected it to be, but I don’t think I’d have wanted it any other way.
Bree and I didn’t tell anyone that we were going to get tattoos that night. It was something that we decided to do on our own - without anyone else’s input, opinion, or approval.
I have already been lectured on being too impulsive, ruining my future career options if I do this again, wasting too much money, not having enough of a reason to get one, getting a tattoo with someone I’ve only known for two months - just about everything there is to be lectured on.
The irony of all of this is that the offending tattoo in part symbolizes personal growth that is not hindered by the opinions of others.
Plain and simple, I got this tattoo because I wanted to. I can look at it and not only understand the deeper meaning, but also remember what a great weekend that was with Bree. Rent, leftover pancakes from IHOP, 2 a.m. gossip sessions in the lounge, quoting Friends and bonding over how life just really sucks sometimes.
Tattoos are obviously a permanent decision, but it is up to me to decide if I want them - not everyone else. Maybe some day I will regret this one, but I won’t regret the memories that I got with it.
