Tattoos

Everyone has their 'thing' that attracts them to certain people.  A fetish you may call it.  Some like overweight people, some like piercings, some like bad boys (or girls), some like tattoos and some like accents.  For me the latter two are applicable.  Tattoos however, are most my thing.

I really REALLY like tattoos on a partner.  Whether it's a male or female partner, wherever on the body, whatever it is.  I like tattoos pure and simple. 

I once dated someone as they had a mighty collection of tattoos.  Lying in bed just looking at the tattoos was a favourite past-time for me.  I found them mesmerising.  I also like talking about tattoos.  I have had many conversations with people about tattoos, why they got them and where they stood in that point in their life.  I find you can strike up a conversation with someone you barely know, talk about tattoos and you feel you know them inside and out.  They are immensely personal.

I got my tattoo when I was amidst coming out, and a couple of years after my grandmother had died.  It is a culmination of both grief and awakening; the most powerful emotions I have experienced.  For me, my tattoo means I am carrying my grandmother with me wherever I go, and when I have a bad moment I look at it and realise how lucky I am to be alive and lament on how immensely proud of me she would be.*  Similarly, it also reminds me to be who I am, speak my mind and live my life honestly and without fear.

I was recently speaking to a friend and we were talking about the beauty of tattoos and the significance of them.  She told me how she had once read an article claiming that they are a form of self harm.  In one way this makes entire sense, in an other its actually quite insulting and unbelievable.  Admittedly, I got mine at a reasonably tumultuous time in my life and one could view it as an outer expression of my grief.  However, I (and I believe my friend too) would like to believe they are more then that, they are a reflection of who you are, good and bad.

In short, tattoos tell a story of who you are.  I believe they say more about a person then clothing or any other aspect of human appearance.

I'm hoping to get another soon- to the drawing board!
*to note: my tattoo is an 'M' and resides on my right wrist