My Tattoos & What I Would Tell My Younger Self About Them

When I was 15 I somehow convinced my mother to allow me to get a tattoo. How this happened I am not sure, constant nagging is probably the main factor that got her to say yes. So here I am in a tattoo parlor on a hot summers day, mom and older sister by my side, ready to get pricked repeatedly with a needle. The tattoo I planned on was a fleur-de-lis on my wrist. The meaning that everyone is always searching for is sadly just that the Pittsburgh Penguins had just won the Stanley Cup and I was a “Diehard fan”. Marc Andre Fluery had just had an amazing season and helped us take home the trophy, I was excited and wanted to remember that moment in life!

That day I did not get what I planned though, I was told that I was too young and would regret such placement. Instead, I chose to get a nautical star on my left hip. Not much better than a fleur-de-lis, but I am forever grateful that the shop owner would not allow the wrist tattoo. Six years later I have plenty of tattoos all over my body. I realized that day tattoos are serious but seriously fun.

Now I am 21 years old, a junior in college, getting ready to take on the real world, and obtain a job. I couldn’t be more fearful that a potential job could be foregone due to my ink. What if an employer will see my cute and colorful flower tattoos on my wrist and write me off as a rebel? I constantly tell myself that if an employer will not hire me due to this one minor detail than I do not want to work for them either. Though that is a stretch when it comes to actually obtaining a job in today’s market. All I can do is hope for the best and work hard and wear long sleeves to interviews.

So what would I tell me younger self?

1. Think about it, thoroughly. Placement, color, and design. All of it needs at least a couple weeks thought to be sure that this is something you want enough to have forever and ever, and ever, and EVER.

2. Be picky when the artist shows you the design. If you don’t like something, tell them. But also be sure to take their advice into consideration. They are professionals and know what to expect after the tattoo is on the skin. Remember one day your skin will sag so super small tattoos are kind of silly.

3. You’re going to get a job one day. Think about how you will have to cover a tattoo if the job you so desperately want does not allow tattoos. Though they are super main stream these days, it is still an owner’s choice how he wants the image of the company to be seen.

4. Tattoos are fun. They do help you to remember certain time eras in your life. They’re also learning experiences and even though you have done a few differently they are a part of you and make you exactly who you are today!

5. You only live once.