Let me start by saying that I have wanted tattoos since I was young and knew what they were. Though my tastes of what I thought deserved to be on my body have changed, I still believe the temple that is my body deserves to be decorated. I wanted simple tattoos that carried a lot of meaning to me. My three tattoos have meanings to me, and I cannot wait to adorn myself with more. However, there was a side effect to my tattoos that I didn’t foresee until after my first experience with ink. After my first tattoo, I felt an extreme sense of empowerment. Whether it was the circumstances under which I decided to get my tattoo or the fact that I felt like a badass after I got it. I never feel as empowered as I do after I get a new piece of body art. People often say that tattoos are addicting, and I would agree with that, but I’ve made a promise to myself to only get them when I feel I’ve overcome some hardship in my life. I would consider it therapeutic.
I got my first tattoo when I was twenty years old. I was a sophomore in college and wanted something that I would cherish forever. I decided to get a crown to remind myself that I deserve the best out of myself and others; that I deserve to be treated like a princess all the time. Additionally, I am a huge fan of Disney and the amazing memories this company has provided me. I also wanted a piece to honor some of my largest role models: Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, and Lady Gaga. My boyfriend at the time and I had gotten into a fight about me getting it and my reasons for it. If I needed a more perfect situation to be true to myself and act on the partial meaning of my tattoo, this was it. This wasn’t the first time this particular boyfriend exhibited some controlling behavior and I decided to leave that unhealthy relationship behind me once I got my tattoo. With my first tattoo I felt liberated, sexy, and utterly empowered.
I got my second tattoo only two months after my first, but I found myself adjusting to college life as single, and my life had never been sunnier, which I felt called for a new piece of ink. Hence, my second tattoo of a sun. I consider myself an optimistic individual and wanted something to encompass that. Like with my crown, my sun has multiple meanings. The best compliment anyone has ever given me was that I was the sunshine in their life, and I wanted something to always remember that. As a native Floridian, I’ve always wanted a piece to immortalize my love for my state, and what better way to do that than with a sun? My sun tattoo is also special to me because I got this tattoo with my best friend from home. While our tattoos are not matching, the experience her and I shared at the tattoo parlor is special to the two of us and something that we continue to talk about.
I waited about a year until I got my next tattoo. My entire first semester my junior year was miserable. My course load was on the edge of unbearable and I had a horrible semester-long experience with a professor. I found myself locked in my room every day after classes crying and wishing I could just be home. I’ve never been one to be homesick while I’m at school, but if I could have driven in 464 miles home every weekend, I would have in a heartbeat. Additionally, I had started dating someone new and thought I met someone who I could trust and put all my faith into; however, without mentioning too many details, I realized how lethal this guy was to my mental health after a multitude of negative experiences and many late nights discussing the issues regarding my relationship. For my own mental health, I ended this toxic relationship. I was completely heartbroken, and I knew that I deserved better than to be lied to constantly, so I moved my life forward. Love is about support and trust, which I was receiving the bare minimum of from this individual. Again, as a person, I believe I deserve the best out of myself and others. If there was ever a time in my life that I needed encouragement and inner support, this was it.
After this semester, while I was home for winter break, I decided to get my next tattoo. I wanted something used to inspire generations. I wanted something to support inner happiness for the masses, not just myself. After much deliberation I decided to get lyrics to “Hey Jude” by The Beatles. I’ve always loved The Beatles and I’ve always wanted lyrics to this song, I just wanted to wait for the right time. I decided on the lyrics “Take a sad song and make it better” to constantly remind myself that no matter how difficult my life felt at the moment, there are always good things that happen along the way and there is always a bright outcome. Glass-half-full mentality. This tattoo was especially empowering to me because my mental funk had lasted so long, about seven months. This new tattoo was exactly what I needed to boost my self-confidence and help my mental health get back in check.
I can’t describe the feeling of empowerment I get when I decide to get a new tattoo. It’s one thing to believe something about yourself or describe to yourself what you want out of life or what you even believe what life is about, but to me, to decorate yourself with those meanings forces you to face it. I love my tattoos and would do them all over again if I could. I can’t wait until I decide to get my next one and I can’t wait until my next major life experience.