Should you get a tattoo? That’s a fairly loaded question in my book.
Would you be getting something meaningful or would the tattoo be a spontaneous decision? Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting a large infinity symbol draped across your arm or possibly an anchor on your left shoulder.
Being college students, we can probably all think of at least one person we know or have met that when we first laid eyes on their tattoo it made us absolutely cringe.
I have met guys my age with full and elaborate chest tattoos and girls with enormous dream catchers tattooed on their ribs. When I see tattoos like this, two words come to mind, “ouch” and “whaaaa.”
Without getting overly judgmental, to each their own, truly. If a large and intricate or multipart tattoo is what makes them happy, then good for whoever it is getting that tattoo.
I recently got a tattoo on April 4th for my birthday and I could not possibly be more over the moon about the decision.
The day before my birthday I was tagging along with my two roommates, Rachel and Clara, to High Priestess because that day Clara would be getting her second tattoo and I wanted to investigate before I fully committed to my own.
Clara had been prepared for this tattoo for sometime and she looked so giddy as she and her tattoo artist went over the lingering last minute details. We followed Clara’s tattoo artist down a flight of stairs into his workspace and he began working on Clara’s tattoo.
The tattoo was a religious phrase that she learned while studying abroad in Africa. These three words carried such a heavy and beautiful message for Clara and I was happy to see that someone I knew was committing to such an uplifting message.
Clara did well and barely even winced while she was being pricked by the tiny, vibrating needle. I was all in now.
I went back upstairs and put down a $60 deposit to reserve my appointment for my own tattoo the following day.
Last summer, my sweetheart of a man and 93-year-old grandpa passed away. Growing up, while my parents were at work, my brother and my two younger cousins and I would be watched by my grandpa every day after school.
He was always a positive fixture in my life and despite the fact that he had a very trying and often draining life, he was the incredibly appreciative and always had a sunny disposition. No matter who you were or where you were going, he would always tell people, “que Dios te bendiga” which translates to “may God bless you.”
The day of his funeral, I heard these words play over and over and over in my head. These four words were going to be my tattoo.
On my birthday, Clara and I went back to High Priestess and my knees were slightly shaking and had been for about half an hour prior to getting to the shop. I was apprehensive about being pricked repeatedly by that unrelenting needle.
My tattoo artist’s name was, Rest, as in “I’m going to go rest.” He had two sleeves of tattoos, many of which he tattooed on himself. As I looked around his work area, I was suddenly noticed a sketch of Ron Swanson on the wall.
A smile instantly hit my lips and I asked Rest about it. Rest grinned and explained that someone came into the shop not too long ago and seriously asked to get a Ron Swanson tattoo.
Then the process began and I grabbed Clara’s hand. The tattoo was being placed slightly below my neck and the font was a gorgeous, cursive creation that Rest had drawn up himself. The pain would elevate as the needle pricked my spine and it sent waves of chills throughout my body.
Roughly 15 minutes later it was over and I sprung out of my seat and rushed to a mirror. It was everything I planned for and it absolutely made my birthday.
I don’t believe a tattoo requires a grand history or ample meaning behind the decision to get one, but I would argue that having some significance behind it makes it that much more personal and with a personal touch comes a stronger admiration for the tattoo.Â