Remain tattoo free

“I want to express my individuality but I don’t want to seem different . What do you think another tattoo or a piercing ? ”
Nothing for me thanks I have a personality and I like me .

It’s awesome to know that I’ve made it through that fantasy period of my life when I thought a tattoo would make me seem interesting or exotic or spiritual or committed or mystical or hip or whatever. The first bout of tattoo desire was when I had my celtic art obsession in the mid nineties the second came with full sleeve hipster-look, which I found both badass and aethetically pleasing. Interesting how both of these were “trend” reasons which have since died off (and if I had gotten them, the tattoos would be there to effectively date me… Mid 90’s neo-celtic? Check. Early 2000’s Hipster? Check)

Actually wanting and planning for tattoos, I’ve experienced all of the pro-tattoo rhetoric out there but one thing prevented it from happening- I promised myself I’d wait until “I’m an adult”. Figured, if a tattoo lasts forever and will be with me until I die, what’s the harm in waiting to get one? Permanently changing my body was akin to having a child or getting married. Not something I was ready to just run out and do without properly considering the rest of my life.

When given the time, I could describe in detail the many tattoos I’ve wanted while i was waiting and what they meant to me, and because I have strong ideas and I’m good at making pictures- there were a lot of them. Several of them were planned for the same spot on my body which means they canceled each other out, and every time I thought of a new idea to put on that special place it was annoying to me how I no longer agreed with the previous one. It was clear my mind was not in a permanent place and therefore a permanent decision wasn’t ready to be made.

Now that I’m all “grown up” I realize that I don’t need to cover my skin with pictures to add any meaning to my life or to impress anybody. I’m fine just the way I was created, and feel no need to augment myself. I’ve notice a lot of honestly confused people covered with tattoos who use tattooing as a way to assume some control, and then I’ve noticed the behavior of some people who are covered with tattoos who seem to act exaggeratingly friendly or responsible in order to gain other people’s respect- it must be terrible to have to live with that pressure. There’s a sense these particular people may have their regrets, and I took the warning.

I’ll end this little rambling on the fact that my current honest opinion is a tattoo looks like the lovechild between a sticker and a bruise- and the only way a tattoo appears even halfway decent is if it is a full sleeve or some very simple geometric black-work. I’d happily date someone who was tattooed and I certainly don’t discriminate because of it. However I am endlessly thankful I myself did NOT get a tattoo, and I’ve permanently decided I will never have one.

but I would never permanently add something like that.

Tattoos are correlated with, basically, all kinds of issues, like drug use, smoking, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, crime rates, etc.

The world is trying to label me enough, thank you very much.

That’s what I think when I see people with tattoos. I try not to be judgemental (it’s on my list!) but I just think tattoos are a sign to everyone that you exercized some bad judgement. But maybe it’s just my phobia of being able to committ long-term to an icon on my skin.

A tattoo is one of the many ways to mutilate my body voluntarily, and I haven’t done it, and I’m not planning to.

If I want a picture on my skin I can get a perfectly good temporary tattoo if I can’t do it with a permanent marker.

I keep thinking that I would love to get a little, tiny, weeny, peace sign tattoo on the inside of my wrist. I have wanted to do this for maybe oh…...20 years, and haven’t. I never will.!!!! I have decided …forget it..

Well not really but unless I lose my mind or have some life altering event happen, I won’t be getting a tattoo.

Sadly, too many young people are not making the same choice.

of my freedom from tattoos. Only 20000 more days to go.

This goal will never be complete until I die. Just sad to see so many rushing to mark and mutilate their bodies.

A tattoo is forever.