Tattoos although painful, are something that society accepts and even praises now a days. Long ago it was something that mostly men who were in some branch of the service did to prove their bravery and have a lasting memory of the honor they got while serving. Now not only do men get tattoos but more and more women are getting tattoos, and not just in places that you can't see all the time either. Kat VonD comes to mind when I think of women who are very liberal with tattoos and look amazing and beautiful with them as well, (even if she is a man stealer). She not only has a lot of tattoos, but she is an amazing tattoo artist and runs her own shop, you can watch her on LA Ink.
I waited until I was completely sure, and had enough money before I got my first tattoo last year on spring break during student teaching. I had to wait until I had a break from school, because I got my first tattoo along the side of my right foot, and I would not have been able to wear the correct and appropriate shoes for school if I hadn't waited. What did I get you might ask? Well I wanted my first tattoo to mean something to me, and to be something that I wouldn't regret no matter how long I lived. In the end, I decided to get the saying (which I try to live by), "Live Laugh Love" along the right side of my right foot. I love this phrase, and I try to use it in my life to help me remember the important things, and to just really live, laugh, and love at all times. I got it done in Old English at a local tattoo and piercing shop in Oneonta, NY it's called The Golden Lotus. It was an awesome place to get my tattoo done, and my husband got his first tattoo retouched at the same time that I was getting my first tattoo done. It was an awesome day, and we bonded in a new way which was exciting.
Why am I writing about tattoos you might ask? Well I just think that there is a lot going around about them right now, and I think that it's an interesting topic to discuss. A lot of people that are religious see tattoos as a way that takes you further away from God, because you are changing the way that he made you to look. I on the other hand disagree, not only because we do that on a daily basis by cutting our hair, piercing our ears, painting our nails, putting on makeup, and a bunch of other image altering things. I also disagree with it, because in my opinion if God is the kind of God I think he is, then he wants us to be us, not just a clone of himself. He made us the way we are, and if we want to get tattoos that just further shows our different and unique personalities in a visible way. I am not saying that all tattoos are good, and that everyone should get one. I just think that if you want one, and you can try to imagine that you won't hate it at some point in your life, then you should do it (once you are of age!). My husband has 3 tattoos, my brother has 3 as well, my friend has six, another friend has 2, another friend has 2, and one of my cousins has so many I don't think I know all of them.
I think tattoos are very unique and cool, because they are a way for us to express ourselves in a real and lasting way. When we cut out hair, it grows back, when we pierce our ears they can close up, when we paint out nails they can be removed, but tattoos are very permanent and lasting. I know they have come up with the surgery to remove them, but that is a long process as well.
In my experience, tattoos are like pringles once you start it's hard to stop. I have seen this with my husband, who got three tattoos over a 5 year period, and always thinks about having more. I have seen it with my brother who has three tattoos as well. After my first tattoo which was painful and scary, I wanted to get another one right away! Even now, I am planning to get my second tattoo once I have saved up, planned what I want, and can get enough time for healing. I am not sure what addicts people to tattoos, but one you pop you just can't stop. I don't think that it's something people can't quit obviously, but it's interesting to see the allure of something that is painful but addictive. I think part of the addiction is the pain, but it's a pain with a goal or an objective, or even a prize. At the end of the pain, comes a wonderful addition to your body that is an expression of yourself. I like that kind of an addiction, it feeds the soul rather than the demons. But, what do you think? Are tattoos good, bad, addictive, not addictive? Let me know!
Tattoos are art for our bodies, it's a way to express ourselves through pain and healing. It's an expression of something that will last with us forever.
I waited until I was completely sure, and had enough money before I got my first tattoo last year on spring break during student teaching. I had to wait until I had a break from school, because I got my first tattoo along the side of my right foot, and I would not have been able to wear the correct and appropriate shoes for school if I hadn't waited. What did I get you might ask? Well I wanted my first tattoo to mean something to me, and to be something that I wouldn't regret no matter how long I lived. In the end, I decided to get the saying (which I try to live by), "Live Laugh Love" along the right side of my right foot. I love this phrase, and I try to use it in my life to help me remember the important things, and to just really live, laugh, and love at all times. I got it done in Old English at a local tattoo and piercing shop in Oneonta, NY it's called The Golden Lotus. It was an awesome place to get my tattoo done, and my husband got his first tattoo retouched at the same time that I was getting my first tattoo done. It was an awesome day, and we bonded in a new way which was exciting.
Why am I writing about tattoos you might ask? Well I just think that there is a lot going around about them right now, and I think that it's an interesting topic to discuss. A lot of people that are religious see tattoos as a way that takes you further away from God, because you are changing the way that he made you to look. I on the other hand disagree, not only because we do that on a daily basis by cutting our hair, piercing our ears, painting our nails, putting on makeup, and a bunch of other image altering things. I also disagree with it, because in my opinion if God is the kind of God I think he is, then he wants us to be us, not just a clone of himself. He made us the way we are, and if we want to get tattoos that just further shows our different and unique personalities in a visible way. I am not saying that all tattoos are good, and that everyone should get one. I just think that if you want one, and you can try to imagine that you won't hate it at some point in your life, then you should do it (once you are of age!). My husband has 3 tattoos, my brother has 3 as well, my friend has six, another friend has 2, another friend has 2, and one of my cousins has so many I don't think I know all of them.
I think tattoos are very unique and cool, because they are a way for us to express ourselves in a real and lasting way. When we cut out hair, it grows back, when we pierce our ears they can close up, when we paint out nails they can be removed, but tattoos are very permanent and lasting. I know they have come up with the surgery to remove them, but that is a long process as well.
In my experience, tattoos are like pringles once you start it's hard to stop. I have seen this with my husband, who got three tattoos over a 5 year period, and always thinks about having more. I have seen it with my brother who has three tattoos as well. After my first tattoo which was painful and scary, I wanted to get another one right away! Even now, I am planning to get my second tattoo once I have saved up, planned what I want, and can get enough time for healing. I am not sure what addicts people to tattoos, but one you pop you just can't stop. I don't think that it's something people can't quit obviously, but it's interesting to see the allure of something that is painful but addictive. I think part of the addiction is the pain, but it's a pain with a goal or an objective, or even a prize. At the end of the pain, comes a wonderful addition to your body that is an expression of yourself. I like that kind of an addiction, it feeds the soul rather than the demons. But, what do you think? Are tattoos good, bad, addictive, not addictive? Let me know!
Tattoos are art for our bodies, it's a way to express ourselves through pain and healing. It's an expression of something that will last with us forever.
Great post Kayla!!! Yeah, I've gotten 5 tattoos in 5 years. I think it's safe to say I'm addicted, haha. My first tattoo was on my right foot, as well! I got the Japanese kanji symbol for family.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's awesome, and a really cool symbol to put on yourself. I know a lot of people with family tattoos, which is an interesting idea.
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