I always think about my tattoos as a work of art. They not only represent my life but they also represent the things I have experience and been through. So for me it is not only therapeutic but also is a way for me to learn to love my body and myself. Every time I get a new tattoo on a new part of my body I can’t stop staring at it and smiling. Each new design is always better than the last and I honestly love that. One of the tattoos I got to help me out on loving my skin was a tattoo on my thigh. Front and center. For as long as I can remember I have always hated my thighs since they were so big and they stood out. Now that I have that tattoo I honestly feel good about my thighs. The art makes up for everything. 

Now in this instance my left forearm is pretty much getting replaced. 3/4ths of it is covered now and its awesome to see how far I have come with it. It’s beautiful and it makes me smile just to have it. Really it’s like I took my old forearm and replaced it with this one. 

I’m not sure if I will be fully covered by the time I am in my 30's or if I will only do certain sections but I can say that so far I love getting tattooed and I love that I am learning to love myself through all this artwork. Sometimes loving yourself isn’t just about taking care of your body, exercising, or taking care of your skin. Sometimes it’s also about what you do and how you see yourself that matters. For me I have always hated my skin and the way it looks on my body but, slowly I am learning that my skin and this artwork is precious and it is making me stand out as a person. I love every part of it and I can't wait for this whole forearm to be done so I can show others not only my childhood but also how much I love my skin/body.