Tattoos

Bubblegum5586

I have 1 tattoo. When I turned 18 I wanted to get one because ... well everyone else was! But I couldn't think of anything that was meaningful to me. 

I continued to think about it for a few years. Then that show Miami Ink got really popular and that summer on vacation with all my extended family we would talk about the show and all the tattoos we liked. My cousin and my aunt said that when my cousin turned 18 (she was 17) they were going to get their first tattoos together.

Then 1 month after vacation my aunt was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Went in for the biopsy and never woke up. She died 4 days later. It is still something that haunts me (8 years ago), seeing a life of a women with a family taken in just a few days.

So now my poor cousin can't get her tattoo with her mom as they had always planned. I realized, that was the something meaningful I wanted. I told my cousin I would go with her in 11 months when she turned 18. This way it gave me 11 months to really think about want I wanted.

As an art major my first choice was always to draw or paint flowers. I just love the look of flowers (even though I have no desire for real ones). My aunt's favorite color was purple. So I got a purple lily on my lower left back. My cousin got a vine with purple flowers going up her leg and the best part is my aunts mom decided she was going to come with us to get her first tattoo. So at 70 years old she got a yellow rose (her wedding song with her late husband was yellow rose of Texas) with a purple rose bud coming off it.

So I 100% do not regret getting it or the experience. It is just one more thing I have to remember my aunt by! I will say though I don't 100% love how the actual flower came out and will likely get it touched up in the future!

l9i

I have one tattoo.  It's small and mostly hidden as it's on my side/lower back/hip area.  I got it as a personal meaning to me.  A lot of people don't even know I have one and that's fine because the purpose wasn't to show it off, but to remind myself in the way I want to lead my life.  I like it and don't regret it.  I do wish I had gotten more detail, but I'm thinking of adding on to it eventually.  I had thought about my tattoo for about a year before actually doing it.  My rules for getting a tattoo (because at first I wanted somthing but didn't know what) is that I had to want it for at least six months, it had to meaningful to me, and it had to be small and someplace easily coverable (I work in a conservative corporate environment).

amelisha

One of my best friends has the most amazing back piece. She got it to cover a few small ones she didn't like anymore and just went totally OTT with it - it covers her entire back in all these colourful flowers. Practically no skin showing, just this beautiful, bright garden in a kind of watercolour style. It cost as much as her car but it is the most beautiful tattoo I've ever seen in real life. People flip out when they see it.

I'm glad I didn't get one when I was younger because it probably wouldn't have been a great one, and now that my friend has that one I don't think I ever will. It is so big and gorgeous and I love it, but it's kind of ruined me for tattoos now because I know I'd never get something that great and I'm not up for something that big and expensive. I'm totally "go big or go home" now about tattoos. 

I've got to look for a photo now.

KatieinBkln

Such beautiful stories in this thread! @bubblegum1309 I totally teared up reading yours. What a beautiful tribute to your aunt.

I love hearing about people's tattoos (and seeing pics!). I'm too chicken/fickle so far, but I've definitely toyed with the idea of "a" tattoo. Just haven't landed on the right design or location.

classicalandedgy

I have three tattoos, one for each surgery I have had.  I'm all for them if they hold a special meaning. 

BrandNewJ

Sorry to threat jack, but I have a question: for those of you who came from religions that prohibit tattoos, how did you reconcile the two? I've been thinking about a specific tattoo for years but I'm having difficulty. I'm not religious, but I am reform/agnostic and there's that little voice in the back of my head that says no. 

Bubblegum5586

BrandNewJ said:

Sorry to threat jack, but I have a question: for those of you who came from religions that prohibit tattoos, how did you reconcile the two? I've been thinking about a specific tattoo for years but I'm having difficulty. I'm not religious, but I am reform/agnostic and there's that little voice in the back of my head that says no. 

I am Jewish, so it is against my religion and the main thing I knew was that I refused to get a religious[Jewish] tattoo. It drives me crazy when I see a Jewish/Hebrew tattoos.

Since I have one I am unable to be buried in a Jewish cemetery, but my husband is not Jewish and I would likely be cremated anyways.

So it never really bothered me. My Rabbi was a pretty amazing person that really guided me and taught me how my religion is my personal relationship with G-d. I am a good person with strong morals, my tattoo doesn't make me a bad person and I don't think one thing has to do with the other!

ETA: I also don't keep kosher or observe Shabbat every Friday(/Saturday) so I may not be the one you want an opinion from lol

theartistformerlyknownas

BrandNewJ said:

Sorry to threat jack, but I have a question: for those of you who came from religions that prohibit tattoos, how did you reconcile the two? I've been thinking about a specific tattoo for years but I'm having difficulty. I'm not religious, but I am reform/agnostic and there's that little voice in the back of my head that says no. 

I just don't personally subscribe to those facets of religion which I personally find to be...stupid? influenced by too many opinions of people in the past, rather than what my inherent faith tells me? I don't take the Bible word for word, and I firmly believe that the God I believe in has bigger things to be worried about than whether ink has been injected into the top layers of my skin.

novella1186

BrandNewJ said:

Sorry to threat jack, but I have a question: for those of you who came from religions that prohibit tattoos, how did you reconcile the two? I've been thinking about a specific tattoo for years but I'm having difficulty. I'm not religious, but I am reform/agnostic and there's that little voice in the back of my head that says no. 

I grew up Jewish, but I'm not religious anymore. I just consider myself a cultural Jew. It still seemed a little wrong to get tattooed because I still respect the religion and whatnot, but I decided to just live my own life how I want. 

My first tattoo was my best friend's name in Hebrew because we grew up together from the time we were babies, went to Hebrew school, Sunday school, temple, etc together, and he was killed in a car accident when I was 16. So I wanted to be able to keep part of him with me. No religious guidelines were going to stop me from that, and I get that some people see it as hypocritical to get a tattoo in Hebrew when Judaism forbids tattoos but I also don't feel the need to apologize for, or make excuses for, anything that's on my own body and was a very personal choice.

bubblegum1309. That's what I love most about my tattoos, is that they're mine and I love them. Other people's opinions on them mean nothing to me. 

Bubblegum5586

novella1186 said:

BrandNewJ said:

Sorry to threat jack, but I have a question: for those of you who came from religions that prohibit tattoos, how did you reconcile the two? I've been thinking about a specific tattoo for years but I'm having difficulty. I'm not religious, but I am reform/agnostic and there's that little voice in the back of my head that says no. 

I grew up Jewish, but I'm not religious anymore. I just consider myself a cultural Jew. It still seemed a little wrong to get tattooed because I still respect the religion and whatnot, but I decided to just live my own life how I want. 

My first tattoo was my best friend's name in Hebrew because we grew up together from the time we were babies, went to Hebrew school, Sunday school, temple, etc together, and he was killed in a car accident when I was 16. So I wanted to be able to keep part of him with me. No religious guidelines were going to stop me from that, and I get that some people see it as hypocritical to get a tattoo in Hebrew when Judaism forbids tattoos but I also don't feel the need to apologize for, or make excuses for, anything that's on my own body and was a very personal choice.

bubblegum1309. That's what I love most about my tattoos, is that they're mine and I love them. Other people's opinions on them mean nothing to me. 

Not sure why you quoted the word hate as I didn't say that.... but anyway you are right. Your body- your rules and I do agree with that.

doeydo

BrandNewJ said:

Sorry to threat jack, but I have a question: for those of you who came from religions that prohibit tattoos, how did you reconcile the two? I've been thinking about a specific tattoo for years but I'm having difficulty. I'm not religious, but I am reform/agnostic and there's that little voice in the back of my head that says no. 

But people "sin" everyday multiple times a day.  Coming from an LDS family, I was raised to believe that Jesus was the only sinless person, and if we just prayed a lot, went to church, and repented we'd be cool in God's eyes.

BrandNewJ

I guess my concern comes from my parents, elder generation being upset. I know it's not their business, but we are a close family. Their belief is definitely influenced by religion, so that is in the mix. 

theartistformerlyknownas

BrandNewJ said:

I guess my concern comes from my parents, elder generation being upset. I know it's not their business, but we are a close family. Their belief is definitely influenced by religion, so that is in the mix. 

Then your question is really "how did you deal with judgmental people in your family being upset," not "how did you reconcile your religious beliefs." Sounds like it's not your belief, but theirs.

To do that, you repeat after me: "Your problem with me is not my problem."

novella1186

BrandNewJ said:

I guess my concern comes from my parents, elder generation being upset. I know it's not their business, but we are a close family. Their belief is definitely influenced by religion, so that is in the mix. 

My parents are very against tattoos. I didn't tell them I was getting one but eventually they found out. And then they got over it. They know it's my body and that I make my own choices. But I get that it can be tough in that situation. 

BrandNewJ

lolo883 said:

BrandNewJ said:

I guess my concern comes from my parents, elder generation being upset. I know it's not their business, but we are a close family. Their belief is definitely influenced by religion, so that is in the mix. 

Then your question is really "how did you deal with judgmental people in your family being upset," not "how did you reconcile your religious beliefs." Sounds like it's not your belief, but theirs.

To do that, you repeat after me: "Your problem with me is not my problem."

Mostly yeah, but there is that little bit piece of me that follows those beliefs as well. If that's the case though, I most likely won't get one for a while until I can figure out those 2 pieces. 

Inkdancer

My mom is firmly anti-tattoo. My dad has 3 tattoos.

Guess we'll see who wins that fight when I come home with my tattoo (after I save up the cash to get it). Of course, since it will be on my hip, they won't see it until we're on vacation at the beach.

hellosweetie1015

Inkdancer said:

My mom is firmly anti-tattoo. My dad has 3 tattoos.

Guess we'll see who wins that fight when I come home with my tattoo (after I save up the cash to get it). Of course, since it will be on my hip, they won't see it until we're on vacation at the beach.

My mom is the cool one regarding tattoos. She only has one, but she is much more laid back than my dad just in general. Dad is a stuffy old curmudgeon.

Unnecessary long story time! My mom and all my siblings and I have the same "Imagine" tattoo, in my mom's "fancy" handwriting. My mom and the three oldest were able to get them in NYC a year ago, but baby sister was too young, so Mom promised to take her when we got back to Alabama, where joint parental consent is accepted to tattoo a minor (although I think most shops want you to be at least 17). Dad pitched this huge-ass hissy fit when my mom told my dad she'd agreed to take my sister to get her "Imagine" for her birthday. Called me and chewed me out for knowing about it, blamed me and my siblings for corrupting the baby, gave my mom hell for "letting Baby ruin her body", blah blah blah. (Baby was almost seventeen at this point, just for clarity, so you know. Clearly seventeen is old enough for bodily autonomy.) All three of us older ones told him he was 110% in the wrong about this specific situation and he needed to quit being a little whiny baby about it.

Last week, he was discussing his thoughts on maybe getting a sleeve. Wtf dad.

I will say that if Baby had wanted a Ninja Turtle or something like that it would have been a totally different story. Don't get a Ninja Turtle tattoo at 17. You will probably regret that. (Not always. But probably.) But since this was something we'd intended to do all together, and since it's something that we'll always share, it was a special circumstance.

rockin30ish

I have 9 tattoos. There is only one I regret and it's on the top of my foot. A friend of mine did it when he was still an apprentice. But, in the same token, it reminds me of a certain time in my life.

Tattoos are very personal (or they should be). What you get should mean something to you, even if it's "Hey, this is my favorite flower." Mine sort of tell my story. All my tattoos represent a certain time in my life or are of importance to me (like my daughter's footprint and name).

My ex-SIL is my artist. As strange as it is, she's also FI's artist. There are very few others I would trust to permanently ink me. Make sure the place you go to is reputable and CLEAN!! The cleaner the better. Make sure to scour their books. Analyze every tattoo they have done. Make sure that they are the one for you. Make sure you are comfortable with them. Make sure they set up in front of you. Needles should be freshly opened while you are sitting there. Inks poured in front of you. When they show you the drawing, make any corrections you want. This is your tattoo. It will be on your body forever!

I love tattoos, and if you want one, I say go for it!