How many times did your parents tell you when you were growing up to never judge a book by its cover? About a million times, right? But let's face it, people judge all the time without the person even saying a word. From big to small things, people judge every day.

Getting a tattoo is a common way to show individuality. Personally, I get judged all the time. Especially when I tell people that I have tattoos and piercings. Most people don't know about my tattoos unless it's summer and I'm at the pool, only because they are covered the rest of the time. But even when I tell people, the look that they give me is most of the time straight judgement.

Yes, I am a Christian.

Yes, I do know they are permanent.

Yes, I am going to school to be an Elementary School Teacher.

Yes, I am a nanny and a babysitter.

Yes, I am still the same person I was prior to getting the tattoos.

Yes, I do know everything that everyone asks me about them, but that doesn't stop me from loving the meaning they have to me.

Me having tattoos and piercings has nothing to do with the quality of my work or my personality. To others, there are certain professions where they feel people shouldn't have visible tattoos. How would you feel if you found out that your dentist or your doctor who wears long sleeves has a full tattoo sleeve underneath? Would you consider them to be unprofessional or take your business elsewhere?

My tattoos have meaning to me and my family and they reflect who I am as a person. They show people what is important to me. What someone puts on their body may reflect them as a person, but it doesn't have to make them who they are. I could have a scary or dark tattoo but it wouldn't mean I'm a scary or dark person. It could just be a form of art or have a deeper meaning. There is a long list of people who were disappointed in me for getting my tattoos, but the thing is that they are permanent on my body. I have a memorial tattoo for my Grandpa on my hip and I have the word "Faith" on my ribs. I want them there and I want people to know and understand why I got them and the meaning they have to me.

People who do have tattoos understand that people will not understand completely why they would do something like that, but your body is yours. Not theirs.

Judgment is something that we were always taught not to do as a child, but how many people actually follow through with it on a daily basis today?

But here's the catch, how many times do you ask the meaning behind someone's tattoo before jumping to conclusions?