My father once told me that "Tattoos are a permanent reminder of temporary insanity."
I said, "Dad, that's exactly the point."
Every day we make an incredible amount of decisions.
Some more important than others, like whether or not to eat, or what kind of music to listen to; and some more lasting than others, like which partner you choose or whether or not to have children.
Sitting down, or standing. Leaning forward, relaxing, exercising, reading a book- which book? To begin on the first page or to skip the introduction? Reaching for the light switch with your right hand or your left, whether to stop at the grocery store before or after your appointment, which parking space to select, etc etc etc. (I think you get where I'm going with this.)
And sure, most of the decisions we make day to day are based on habits we've selected intentionally;
Parking in the same general place so you can more easily remember where your car is, getting dressed and brushing your teeth every morning, using your dominant hand to hold the knife, etc.
For me, tattoos are an act of self-trust and bodily autonomy.
Our bodies belong to ourselves. And I happen to love mine more with some added art. I don't need to understand every decision another person makes for their body, just like they don't need to understand mine. I respect their right to choose what to do with it, understanding it has nothing to do with me. It doesn't have to be my taste to be valid.
Sure, in past decades my body art may have precluded me from some places for how I present; yet I know for certain that I will not be hindered in my future of my own making by my past any more than any other deciding.
Firstly, tattoos don't hinder professionalism, and as the HR departments age into more Millennials and Gen-Z than Boomers, this is becoming more known and accepted as we go forward. That being said, I have also come to the realization that any friend group, partner, or professional environment that judges or downright excludes differently presenting bodies (of any nature, tattooed, brown, Black, Indigenous, Asian, disabled, queer, fat folks, etc.) isn't one I want to be part of.
What I mean is, there are plenty of things we do every day that change us forever. Plenty of things every day that change the way we look to others permanently.
You cannot avoid regrets just because you don't get tattooed.
(I'd also like to argue about 'regrets', since I much prefer to view them as 'lessons learned'; as everything each of us have experienced has brought us to being the people we are now.)
And I have plenty of 'lessons learned' that have nothing to do with ink.
Each line reminds me that I trust myself and my decisions. That no matter what, I have gotten me to this point in my life, and I trust where I am taking me; They remind me I'm in charge of how I show up and what I put out there into this world.
I have tattoos that remind me of loved ones, my own gifts, and reasons for being here. Some of my friends have memories of past loved ones or pets, things they thought looked interesting, or even just some silly drawings. It's all personal decisions, doodling on the cover of a notebook that will never be handed in.
My body is temporary, & made to be lived in.
As the saying goes, it is the least interesting thing about me.
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