Inked
Tattoos can be a controversial subject. Are they tacky or artistic? Foolish or symbolic? Did you get one thinking it'd be a great only to be later filled with regret?
The best piece of advice I was ever given in this arena was:
Print out your tattoo design. Tape it to your bathroom mirror. Look at it every day for three months, and see if you still love it after that time. If so? Get inked! If not? Maybe it's time to dream up something else.
When I got my first tattoo, I followed this plan. I found the perfect design, cut it out and taped it to my bathroom mirror. It was a stylized version of the Libran zodiac symbol, and after three months, I still loved it. When I was ready, I went to a tattoo shop that I had carefully chosen and browsed the art on the walls. I pulled off two big panels and said, “I want this,” I said pointing to one graphic, “with the detail of that,” I said pointing to another. I left with a butterfly.
About a year and a half after I got that tattoo, it hit me: what was I thinking?! I had followed the advice. I had a plan. And then, when I was down to the wire, I made a game time decision and changed my mind. I went through a (relatively short) period of regret and then got over it.
When you see a tattoo that's not yours, what do you see? Let's examine mine. (I'll speculate on your behalf.)
You see: A small, black butterfly
I see: Courage and independence, regret and humor
You see: Three black stars
I see: Failure, remorse and dissolution, strength, love and support
This has me thinking: as far as I go, it's not at all about what you see or what you think. This is really about me. It's for me. And while I respect that you might find my markings tacky or foolish, they make me proud. They are my reminders.
The next time someone's tattoo creeps out from beneath their sleeves, let's try to remember not to judge. Let's try to find out what these marks mean to the person on which they live. Let's learn their back story, and let's try to respect the decisions of the folks to which the tattoos belong.
Do you have tattoos? Do yours have a story?
Comments
I don't regret mine, but then again, it's on my hip sort of closer to my back so I can go a very long time without actually seeing it. I guess if I had it on my ankle or something and did look at it every single day, I might get sick of it.
When I see people with cartoon character tattoos I wonder what they were thinking - how that could be so special to them. And also when I see people with tattoos covering their arms, I think for sure they are going to regret that one day.
I'm glad to hear that you don't regret yours. I almost wish I could see my stars as frequently as I see my butterfly, but later in life, I may appreciate that I can't!
I have several tattoos, eight to be exact. Most of them are large and represent different times in my life and express my love for friends and family. Sometimes we need those reminders when things get rough. I feel tattoos are an ultimate expression and in my case, make me humble. All my tattoos can be covered by a t-shirt, not sure I will ever lead a life that would justify completely covering my arms and legs.
-M
See -- now your DV tattoo is a PERFECT example of what I'm talking about. To me? It wouldn't be fitting, but it's *perfect* for you, and you LOVE it! Plus, if need be, it can be covered up. I'm glad that you appreciate the art that you chose. :o)
I think tattoos are one of those things that you either get or you don't. Most people who don't have a tattoo just don't "get it". "It" being everything you brought to light; the reasons, the reminders, the highs and lows in one's life. Tattoos are a symbol of all of those things or should be rather thn silly decorations without meaning.
So, until you have something important enough to remember for the rest of your life, don't get one. But when that event, that high or low comes along and you think, "THIS I need to remember forever", by all means get inked. Because when your hard drive crashes and you lose those photos you took over the years and your memory leaves behind thoughts and event gone by, the ink will remain.