This week I got a new tattoo.
While I find tattoos to be a beautiful form of art some of my family disagrees with me. A few of my family members disagreed with my choice to get another tattoo. They view people who have tattoos as destructive. However this situation reminded me of a Lady Gaga song called Born This Way. At one point in the song she sings, “…I’m beautiful in my way…” which I can really relate to at this point. Even though my family views my tattoos as ugly and destructive they make me feel more beautiful. Now that I have another tattoo my family feels that I am an even bigger disappointment. I don’t think that because I altered my body that makes me a failure. They want to pick and choose which parts of me they love, and that just isn’t how love works. You love someone despite their “flaws”. Which brings me to the lesson for this week: people express themselves in different ways,
but that doesn’t make them bad for doing it.
There are a myriad of way people express themselves. A few people change the way they dress, or they change their hair. Some get tattoos. That doesn’t make them a bad person for expressing themselves in less conventional methods. Tattooing is just another form of art and expression. However, people with tattoos are often misjudged as criminals or hooligans. They are just projecting themselves to the rest of the world. Their choice of expression doesn’t make them a horrid human being, and these assumptions are extremely hurtful.
When I got my first tattoo some of my family thought it was a really stupid decision because I was only 16 at the time. That wasn’t such a big deal. I had made decisions in the past that they had disagreed with, but one of my aunts said that I was no longer a good niece…well that hurt. I choose to express myself in a way that she didn’t like, but did that make me a bad person. In the end, I decided that it didn’t. Getting a tattoo didn’t change my core personality traits it just changed the way the back of my neck looks. I am still the same Alicia I just have something that makes me a little different. Just like Lady Gaga said, “…I’m beautiful in my way…” My tattoos don’t define who I am they just make me more beautiful.
The lesson this week is that changing something about yourself or expressing yourself doesn’t make you a good or bad person. Dressing different, changing your hair, or getting a tattoo doesn’t change the person you are. It may portray a certain image to the world, but it doesn’t define you either. So, try not to make the decision of character based on the way a person looks. Their personality doesn’t directly coincide with the way they look.
I LOVE your new tattoo. I understand where you're coming from with your family members not understanding why you have decided to get them. I got mine not to long ago and I still have yet to tell my dad. Mainly because I am afraid that he is going to be disappointed in me. It bothers me so much when people say, "well, what about when you're 80? I bet your tattoos wont look good then." I'm sorry but I have yet to see an 80 year old who looks like he or she did when they were younger so I will just embrace it even more then because it will make me even more unique.
ReplyDeleteAlicia,
ReplyDeleteI have so much to say about your blog. I am absolutely in love with tattoos. I think they are greatest piece of art. I have three tattoos, and I don’t regret any. I think tattoos are a way to differ yourself from others, but I believe tattoos should have meaning. All my tattoos have the greatest meanings to me. I plan to get more because tattoos are very addictive. People have their own opinions on tattoos, and my family is very accepting of my tattoos. But my grandmother is one that never really says anything, but I know she doesn’t like it. But overall, I think it’s my body, and I don’t care if I’m older and my tattoos wrinkle because there is a story behind each tattoo that I will always cherish. And nice tattoo! I like it.
First off, I love the tattoo, the whole bird and music thing is so pretty! Your blog is very interesting. We all express ourselves in our own way,and tattoos are one of the great ways to express oursleves. Each tattoo has its own message in it, wether the tattoo has a story behind it, or there is a story on how the tattoo was aquired. Tattoos are very intersting, and I sometimes think I would like to get one, but then I chicken out because I am not a big fan of needles. Tattoos are beautiful! Be proud of how you express yourself, and ignore the people who do not appreciate the beauty of your tattoo. :)
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