Hannah Hearts...

So generally I don’t feel motivated to add my specific voice to the fray of comments on what I consider to be commonly talked about divisive topics. This time however, I feel really strongly about said topic and I really don’t understand why it is so hard and important for other people to be judgmental about it. 

Tattoos.

Quit the hate. I don’t understand it because someone else having a tattoo literally has NO EFFECT on your life. I can’t fully explain how ridiculous this article is but I can say that my biggest issue with it is the way she seems to state that there is only one way to be a classy lady. Which is complete bullshit. Also it’s incredibly depressing that she thinks all women have to be the same and have the same interests, my God that would be a boring world.  She also states that nothing comes from a tattoo, a strange thing to say when she admits that they can (and often do) have meaning for people. This is flat out wrong.

My tattoo is very small, very simple, and nestled in the curve of my ankle. Every single time I see it, that sun reminds me that I have made a commitment to myself to be myself. While many people are strong enough and confident enough to do this without a visual reminder it doesn’t make my tattoo any less significant or important to me. I could’ve written an inspirational quote on my mirror, I could’ve put a stickie note in my wallet to remind me, but I felt (and still feel) that this message is important enough to who I am that I should always love and live up to what that sun represents. The permanence of my tattoo is why it means so much to me. 

I also have a problem when tattoos are thrown into simple categories like in this diagram. This might have some truth in it but ultimately it is a way to classify all tattoos as never socially appropriate. It bothers me that my tattoo is in a place that appears to be the ‘just for fun girl choice’. I put a lot of thought into all aspects of my tattoo, including its placement on my body. I knew exactly what I wanted (my spiral sun) for 4 years before I actually got it inked on my person. I also knew that a tattoo meant that I couldn’t be fickle about it so I tried things out. I took a sharpie and drew my design on my hip where I originally wanted it. I did that for a month before I realized it wasn’t what I wanted. I needed a place that I could see easily glimpse my drawing on a daily basis as well as being easily concealed. I know I want to be a teacher, and I know that not everyone agrees with tattooing, but ultimately I know that my tattoo is for me, not for other people. When people discover that I have a tattoo, they ask to see it, they ask how long I’ve had it, they ask what it means and in that conversation I share a bit of myself with them. It is special and personal. I wanted to be able to show it off when I felt compelled but only then. 

I thought this article was interesting because I know that not everyone puts this much thought into their body art. But I don’t think that everyone has to. It is important to know that if you get a tattoo it is fairly permanent (there are removals but not erasures) and if you’re going to get a whim tattoo, embrace that. I also know people who made a short term decision and love that they have a reminder of them in a moment. Not everything has to be ubermeaningful. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get two more tattoos and they will both have meaning but neither will be anywhere close to the significance of my sun. 

And to anyone who likes to throw around the saying that “nobody likes the same things forever” I sincerely hope you haven’t had children.