As we grow into a new age and time we see more and more people embracing tattoos and piercings. Work places are starting to change their rules when it comes to letting employees express themselves. When I was younger I wanted to get my nose pierced so badly. I begged and begged my Dad to let me get a nose piercing. What was his response?

"When you are eighteen you can do whatever you want to your body but until then no piercings on your face" 

Quite honestly I now understand that response to what I wanted. At the time Jobs were still against tattoos and piercings, especially on the face. They were most judgmental on who you were as a person and every time you tried to get a job you were put aside as a last priority if you had anything in the open. So I listened to my dad and waited till I was eighteen. I will be honest and say that I thought about going behind his back and getting someone else's parent to sign the forms so I could get it done. Yet I waited until my birthday. Once I turned eighteen I went into a tattoo shop, signed the papers (even though I was scared half to death) and got my nose pierced. Ever since then I have been going back to the same piercer and haven’t looked back. Every time I see myself with my new piercings or tattoos I see myself becoming true to who I am. Quite honestly I take my time with deciding on what I want and only go when I feel "the itch". 

Yes I call it "the itch". It’s when you see other people’s piercings/tattoos and you just suddenly start thinking about a design that you have been thinking about for a while and you just have this spontaneous burst of "I’m going to get this done" and next thing you know you’re making an appointment and Bam a new addition to your skin. 

I recently had this itch and I am going to get a new tattoo done and probably in a week or so I’m going to get a new piercing. I am ready and I feel that little bit of myself wanting to add more to my skin. I love art and I love being true to whom I am. Nothing makes me happier than being able to express who I am and showing it off to the public eye. 

If you are thinking about getting tattoos or piercings, don’t be afraid. If it is something that you want to get done then go get it. Don’t let the fear of others judging you get to you and don’t let them get you down. Everyone has a different experience and a different pain tolerance. Just because someone tells you that it hurt when they got that particular tattoo or piercing doesn’t mean that it will be like that for you. 

So, do you have any tattoos or piercings? What are your thoughts on them?