While tattoos are becoming more and more accepted in the modern day generation, it's still a controversy.

I hear it said so many times. "You'll regret that tattoo." "You wasted your money on that." "It's going to look terrible when you're 60."

But they don't ever mention how you're going to be able to tell your grandkids the story of your ink, may that be the memory behind it or the point in your life that caused you to get something so permanent that you don't want to forget it.

They give you such character. Yeah, some tattoos are extremely common but at the same time, everybody has a different reason for getting it. You could see three different people with the same tattoo and all of them will give you a different reason behind it. I love being asked why I got my tattoos. I love being asked if they have a meaning behind them, because then I get to explain my story. Very rarely do you get to explain your story to someone you just met. But if they see the permanent ink in your skin, they are going to ask you about it. Whether that's a chance to explain some religious views or a politic stand point or something you personally went through, that is your short period to explain your opinion or your story.

That's the biggest thing about tattoos. It's your own storybook. Some people are bound to just pass you up and judge you by the cover but some will sit down and take the time to learn your story, cover to cover. It's personal. It's rare. It's unique. And just like a book, it can provoke some kind of emotion that you never would've expected. It can also connect you with other people. Say someone asked you about your tattoo and just happens that they went through something similar to you but you never would've never known that unless the tattoo was brought up.

Tattoos help make you who you are. There are some people I just couldn't picture without their tattoos. Not because they are "trashy" or beneath me but simply because they help tell the tale of who they are and how far they've come from where they used to be. That's the word that gets me. "Trashy." Yes, some tattoos are a very poor decision but if there was a story or meaning behind it, I would never call it "trashy." At that point you are taking someone's decision to remind themselves of a point in their life and calling it trashy. Even if it's just something as simple as an owl on their arm to remind them of wisdom, why consider that trashy? For someone wanting to better themselves and be wise? Or if someone gets a simple tattoo to remind that of a dark period of their life and to remind them of the person they don't want to be, why would you consider that trashy?

This is a judgment-filled world. There is absolutely no way to avoid that. But if everyone took the time to hear the stories behind them, the whole tattoo misconception would be gone. Nobody wants to take the time to ask or listen, it's just automatic judgment that's cast on the people with a permanent marking in the skin and what about that is fair? This is such a go-go-go, don't-slow-down for anything kind of world and that's where it all gets lost. Everyone just runs past you and sees a black marking on your forearm and automatically assumes the worst. What if just half of those people stopped and actually looked at the tattoo instead of just skimming their arm for some black ink? The world would be different. The judgment on tattoos would different. The idea of people without tattoos are better than the people with tattoos would be gone.The ink in my skin makes me no less of a human than someone who has an altered piece of skin. How is a tattoo any different than a boob reduction or a nose job? It changes your physical appearance just like cosmetic surgery, yet, cosmetic surgery is judged way less than a tattoo.

Modern day society picks and chooses what battles they want to fight. Judging tattoos is one of those battles that started a long time ago simply because it was something that was new and different at the time, therefore, means for starting an outbreak or judgment and hatred for them.

If you don't like them, that's fine. Honestly, it is. But don't try and make the people that do have them feel bad about them. That's the sore spot. It's completely okay not to like tattoos or the general idea of something permanent. The generation of adults now, tattoos weren't a very common thing when they were say 18 or 19 but nowadays, that's how we express ourselves. It's worked it's way into society. Just like high-waisted shorts or certain video games, it's taking over the upcoming generation. Which is something that needs to be recognized and adjusted to. Instead of judging them or assuming the worst, they aren't terrible.

I promise.

There are plenty of jobs out there that are accepting of tattoos. The meaning behind it will still be there in 60 years. It will be good story or learning tool to your future kids. Everyone has their own reasoning behind their tattoo and you would know that if everyone took less time judging the ink they are curious about and just asked.