Me. You. & Tattoos.

I'm constantly told to just 'be myself' and not worry about what others think. Yet, somehow I'm still expected to consider other people's thoughts, beliefs or morals when I make a decision that only affects me. Why must I tiptoe around things that I want all because of the possibility of a future someone not approving.

I have one tattoo.
I want another.
Well technically I want three more, but it would come together as one.

I get comments about the writing on my arm not too often, but when someone does find it necessary to voice their unwanted opinion I'm prepared for it. I've heard it all before and knew before I even got my tattoo that there would be comments. I waited years before I got my tattoo. I wanted to be absolutely certain that those words were what I wanted to carry with me for the rest of my life. I wanted to be prepared for criticism and be confident in my decision.

I was twenty when I got my tattoo. Almost a year ago. I thought about everything. I researched the tattoo parlor, the side affects, aging, placement and just everything that could go wrong. I worry about everything. I don't like people touching me. So for me to put myself out there and handle this all by myself in a responsible way, makes me love my tattoo that much more. The path I took to get to it is just as important to me as the tattoo itself.

One of the things that really makes me mad is when people (I say people, yet keep thinking of this one person in mind) assume that my tattoo was a mistake, that I regret it. Or that I got it for any other reason than simply because I wanted it. I got this ink on my skin for me. As a reminder to myself. I didn't get it to 'offend' people, to draw attention to myself or to piss anyone off. It has nothing to do with you.

I hate how my decisions seem to always be clouded by what others expect out of me. Whether those others are family or even people I don't know yet. It's always this big 'what if'. 'What if you can't get a job?'  or 'What if you can't get a husband because of it?'I hate each and every question they through my way.

Having ink in my skin does not make me less than those who don't.
It does not mean I can't do as good of a job as those who don't.

I hate that having tattoos affects job possibilities. I hate that I have to worry about what I do with my own body because I'm afraid I won't be able to support myself unless I can appear to be 'clean' of tattoos while I work.
I hate that my future must somehow include a man because somehow being just me isn't enough. I hate that some people think a man must being doing me a favor to be with me because I have tattoos. I hate that people honestly think I'd want to even marry someone who judges people based on appearances and has different values than I do.
I guess I just hate having to worry about how my decisions (the ones that have absolutely no affect on those around me) will come across to people. And it's more than just tattoos.

How can I be me when I have to be so conscious of how others perceive me?


  1. On one hand I think humm. That is annoying. And you're right, the people that matter won't care about your tattoo(s). Tattoos are sooo common now. Everyone has them. People complain about seeing them in their wedding dress but I think the right tattoo looks awesome popping out of a dress.

    On the other hand I think all that being said, I do wish I had waited to get my tattoos. Like maybe till I was 30. 2 tattoos I was silly enough to get on my forearms and later had to have removed. (SO painful, uncool, and expensive) It was difficult to work a professional job with them in such an obvious and difficult to hide place. I'm not against tattoos (I have 4 not including the 2 I removed) I just wish I had waited until I was older to decide what to permanently put on my body. I know young me wouldn't believe older me but I didn't really start to know myself until I was closer to 29. I think I would have way cooler tattoos that I adore if I had waited. I think that's why so many people regret them and they get a bad wrap, we tend to get them too early in our journey.

    So I say wait. You've got time. And you're right, it's your body, your journey, and the person that loves won't judge you or care. They'll love you for who you are.

    Good luck deciding sweetie.

    1. Thanks so much, Juju!
      I agree, I think I'm going to wait a bit before I make the decision to get another tattoo, because you're right, I'm still getting to know myself and I want to be absolutely sure.
      Thank you! :)

    2. Thank you for letting me share my pov. I know no matter what you do it will rock. You're an awesome chica!

  2. I've always wanted a tattoo but I can't think of what I want or where.

    I see so many people in all different professions these days with tattoos that I wonder if it's still an issue. I'm sure it is though in certain places.

    1. Hey Karen!
      It took me a while to decide where I wanted the one I have too. For me it just came to me and then I couldn't picture it anywhere else! :)
      I've been seeing more and more tattoos in all different professions lately too. I'm hoping it's becoming less and less of an issue as time goes on.
      Thank you!

  3. I think that tattoos are really cool, if they mean something to the person who has them. From this post, I know that whatever it is that you want to get will mean a lot to you, and i don't see why it's anyone else's business, frankly. If, eventually you decide that you don't want them anymore, you can always get them removed, or get something to cover them up. I'm not saying that you will want to cover them up, but there's always the possibility that you, eventually won't like it. This possibility goes with everything, not just tattoos. (I, myself, currently hate the color of my walls and want to change them, whereas 9 years ago I loved this color)

    I've seen tattoos in the professional field, also, and I don't understand why some people think that they make a person look unprofessional. If a doctor has a tattoo, then they're still a doctor. A tattoo doesn't make a person any less of an individual/professional.

    If a professional person gets a tattoo, their tattoo won't speak for them, their actions as a professional will.

    1. Hey Leah!
      Thank you so, so much. I completely agree with everything you said. I definitely needed to hear all of it.
      Thank you <3