That's right, I'm not talking taking a pen and doodling on yourself, I'm talking about putting a needle in your skin for hours. I'm talking about hardcore tattoos.
I've had this mentality for a while, but I'm young and haven't lived yet. There's so much I haven't experienced much, I've lived a pretty sheltered life. I've never done drugs, never been drunk, and never contemplated leaving school to become a philosopher. I feel like you need to earn the right to a tattoo.
I was just thinking today, I was almost convinced to get a tattoo tomorrow, because a local shop is having an apprentice do some work. I started to get really excited that I might get a tattoo tomorrow, for a while today, that was all I could think about.
I was thinking about where it would be, what it would look like, could I cover it up, how bad will it hurt, and I still want to see it...
I thought about it, and realized it wouldn't be fitting. At least it wouldn't be fitting right now.
Now I like tattoos, and always thought they looked like some of the most beautiful artwork. . At my college of LCCC-ers, I realize almost everyone has a tattoo! I think it takes a lot of guts to get a needle inside you for the sake of free expression. So score one for the tattoos.
But then I thought, if I get a tattoo, I'm like everyone else. If I don't get a tattoo, I'm what society wants me to be, tattoo-free. I can't win.
Some people view their bodies as a canvas for art. I think if you are going to have a tattoo, you want it to look awesome! You'll have it for the rest of your life, so you better like it. And hopefully you do, that's why you're getting it.
Then I thought, I'm not old enough to have a tattoo. I know that sounds stupid, but here's how I figure. I'm 19, I could've gotten a tattoo years ago.
I'm still young, stupid and naiive. I'm beautiful the way I am with or without any type of tattoo. It's an extension of yourself, something you truly believe in. Then I realized something and posed a question to myself.
What do I believe in? How do I know I'll have the same mentality when I'm 30, when I'm twenty. Hell, if I do, I will never be open to new experiences. I haven't really had an obstacle that I've had to face that was significant enough. We'll see if I still believe in the same things I do now. If it was important enough for me to live my life that way, love my life, fight or do something with it's ink worthy.
So why was it so hard to make up my mind in the first place? Here's why. I don't think I've grown up the way I need to to be able to sport one of those babies. Tattoos to me, embody a symbol, a passion, a lover, a drug. I've encountered symbols, but never one that has a good enough meaning to wear the ink.
Tattoos should make a statement on who you are, and I haven't really figured out who I am yet, so i can't get a tattoo.
Yet.
I'm a 30 y/o woman with about 16 tattoos now. And I don't have any plans on stopping. I personally do believe that my body is a canvas. Much like my room, in which I've decorated with little bits and pieces of my personality scattered through out it like a collage of my interests. I've done this for years, about 20 to be exact. I've decided that I want my body to be the same way. A complete collage of my personality.
ReplyDeleteBut you are completely right. I think that you SHOULD be absolutely sure that whatever you get tattooed on you, is something that you will want on you forever. On that note, I'd like to say that I was 21 before getting my first one. I started piercing myself at the age of 15. Some of those have withered away though. Whether due to lack of interest or a physical need to be taken out (car accident/surgery), it just isn't something that I'm much into having at the moment. I seem to go through waves of interest with piercings. Now tattoos are a different story. I honestly don't regret any of my tattoos. And I'm have nine years to live with them. :)
I've always been interested in body art. I love seeing different pieces on people and hearing the stories behind them. Each of my tattoos mean something special to me. Whether it be as simple as my love for the ocean or something with a bit deeper personal meaning. This passion for body art has blossomed into me opening my open shop with a great friend of mine. Now this is something I never would have done with anyone else, but having been tattooed by him for years and really believing in his work has allowed me to justify this risky endeavor.
So all in all what I'm trying to say is that tattoos can be your best friend as long as you are absolutely sure that you understand once that needles hits your skin, that is it. Sure there are lasers, but those are painful. The creams barely work. And cover ups are costly and don't always get the job done. I know that if my artist thinks that maybe you should re-think your decision, he will tell you. Especially when you are attempting to get a boy/girlfriend's name on you. Something I adamantly oppose. I also have alot of younger members of my family and my friend's kid that are under the age of 18 that want tattoos. This I also extremely disagree with. I believe that with age comes wisdom. Certainly a better perspective on yourself. You are very wise to wait until you are completely, absolutely 100% about getting one.