According to the dictionary, Tattoos are “The act or practice of marking the skin with indelible patterns, pictures, legends, etc., by making punctures in it and inserting pigments.” How people can claim that tattoos do not fit into this definition is beyond me. Regardless of your own opinion on tattoos, you can’t deny the hard work and artistry that go into some of them. The best artists study for years to perfect their craft. I feel that art is a way for people to express themselves and prove their imagination and creativity. It allows people to communicate their thoughts and feelings in a visual way. Tattoos definitely do just that.

Tattoos are a topic in today’s society are very controversial. People either hate them or love them. Especially those of the older generations feel that they are one of the things that automatically make someone so-called, “trashy.” Personally, I think that tattoos are beautiful. No matter the size and where they are on your body, there is no denying that it is art and they are something special.

I am so bothered by how people instantly judge someone who has a tattoo. Someone having a tattoo teaches you nothing about their character and how the are as a person. You cannot just assume anything about them because they have a tattoo. People who choose to get them chose to for a reason so why discriminate against them? It is their body and their choice. It is not your body so it’s not your position whatsoever to judge anyone based on their choices about their appearance. We were taught in Kindergarten to “never judge a book by its cover.” It saddens me how some people still haven’t learned that lesson. Having tattoos doesn't change who you are as a person. It doesn't make you less intelligent, compassionate, or less friendly . It simply just makes you, you.

Why do I love tattoos? Here are a few reasons:

1. Tattoos are like getting stamps on a passport, but instead a documentation of a mindset and a time.

I love how I know no matter where I am in life, I am able to always look back on a tattoo and remember exactly where I was — physically, mentally, and emotionally — in that moment. They basically show good and important times in my life. They show my journey. They are a permanent marker of happy events and times and will always be able to make me smile.

2. Tattoos are an expression of who you are on the inside… and on the outside.

I think that is so cool. It is one of the few things that is able to do that. They are a way for anyone to artistically express themselves. They are unique.

3. Tattoos can act as a tribute to a loved one.

They can act as a memorial for keeping someone close and a part of you forever. I do not have a tattoo like this, but I think that is so special and cool.

4. Tattoos make you feel belonged to yourself.

You are able to create whatever you want because your body is a canvas that belongs to you. My tattoos have helped me to endorse emotional reasoning. They have made me the conductor of my life. They have helped me feel in charge.

5. Tattoos help you show your story to the world.

The tattoo artists themselves are story tellers. I think that tattoo artists have a very special job because they get to help people tell their story. Some people may not choose to share their stories in life, but those who choose to do it in a tattoo form is super cool. I just find it incredible how something was significant enough for someone to mark it on their body. It is beautiful.

Tattoos are definitely considered a form of art. They are a way for people to express themselves. They are a symbol of a story being told. Everyone in the world has a story. Some people choose to show them in different ways. Don’t judge people before you truly know them. The truth just might surprise you.

“Tattoos have a power and magic all their own. They decorate the body, but they also enhance the soul.”- Michelle Delio