Tattoos. I have what they call a "itch". It means that I have that feeling deep inside that is like the feeling of an itch but is really an impulse to go get a new tattoo. Yes, I said tattoo. Some of you reading this probably just had an eyebrow raise at the sudden occurrence of a blog post about tattoos but you know, it is a BLOG and I do enjoy talking about all kinds of experiences. So let me share with you my thoughts on tattoos.
For the majority of people with tattoos out there you probably know what I am talking about when I say that it gets old real quick when I get this particular response,
Won’t you regret that in like 10 years?
My response is usually something along the lines of "obviously not or I wouldn’t have gotten it on my body" along with an eyebrow raise and a look that makes it obvious that I am irritated by this question. I mean honestly why ask that? Tattoos are body art. A way of expression. Sure they seem like they mean nothing to someone who doesn’t have any desire to get one but to those of us out there that are going time and time again to that one artist (or many artists depending on what you like) to have another experience of some pain, constant staying still, sweating, and swearing we find it to be like an extension to ourselves. It’s something that we may find is comforting. Maybe you got a tattoo to hide or extenuate the scars on your body. Maybe you got tattoos done because you are a cancer survivor. Maybe you just thought they were badass. Whatever the case, tattoos have a way to make someone feel like they are beautiful.
For me Tattoos have always been an art form. I like to find ways to make my Tattoos tell a story, have some kind of meaning to me and yea I have several. You can’t see all of them in the open but they are there and I went through all kinds of levels of pain to get them done. Why? Because I think it makes me look more beautiful then I already am. It makes me feel like my skin is telling a beautiful story about who I am and what represents me. Maybe it’s something from my childhood, maybe it’s a quote that someone once told me. Maybe it’s a Father Daughter tattoo that connects the both of us. Maybe its lyrics that once saved you from terrible decisions. Tattoos can literally be anything you want them to be. Yes they are painful. Yes they are there forever on your skin but you know what, I love my body art and I love that I am able to give someone a chance to show off the artwork they created on my body (I have a specific artist who draws them for me and a specific tattoo artist that makes the art come to life) and tell people about them. It makes me feel good every time I look in the mirror and see that art work still beautiful on my skin and gives me a boost in my moral. It’s so nice to have them.
The only downside for me is having those specific people tell me that they think that I should have never gotten them done, or that I am terrible because I have tattoos, or tell me that It will look terrible in ten years and I’m going to hell. Over the years I have had a series of people tell me things along that line and the more I get and show them off, the more criticism I get. Sure that is to be expected in anything we do as humans but, it is still taken to heart.
Im glad that the world is changing and we are being more open to tattoos being acceptable. I am happy that I see and hear that more and more people are getting them. It makes it so much easier to walk around in public with them fully displayed. I get compliments on my pieces and for someone to compliment me means they are complimenting the other two people who made the piece complete. A tattoo is never just from one person, its usually two or more people that make it the masterpiece it is. I will never take back the decisions I made to get these beautiful pieces of artwork that I represent with my body.
If you have tattoos, show them off, take the criticism, accept the compliments, and share with others where you got them done. Don’t let others dictate how you should feel about what you chose to get on your body for the rest of your life. Just work it like never before.
Go Check out my newest YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgiWpXOVN4c&t=1s
