To whom it may concern,

By the time this letter is published I'll be different. I'm not going through a mental breakdown or some spiritual or emotional crisis; for once I'm undergoing a physical change that is going to stick. I'm getting a tattoo. I've always been fascinated by tattoos; whether is was an intricate flower pattern on someone's back or a small phrase on the inside of someone's foot, I've always loved the idea of being "inked." However, I'm the first person to think that tattoos can get pretty tacky pretty fast. And to be completely honest, I grew up in a house where getting a tattoo wasn't exactly viewed as a "good idea." So, I knew I would be faced with a few dilemmas when it came to getting my tattoo. But I knew how badly I wanted it and how much it would mean to me. So, here we are. I'm doing it.

I know you must be wondering what I'm getting this tattoo of. Before I explain it let me just say that this made all the difference for me. I think most well thought out and planned tattoos turn out really cool but for me I wanted mine to have meaning. So, after a lot of thought, I decided on one, two word quote that will forever be inked on my side. The quote will read: "Live Third" I motto I learned at a young age that implies the longer statement "God is first, other's are second, and I am third." This quote has been how I have chosen to live my life for the past eight years of my life and how I intend to live my life. It's meaningful and something that I know I'll be able to relate to years into the future.

The other day, when I pitched the idea of my tattoo to my friend, he responded by saying something along the lines of "Would you graffiti a church?" I get it, I really do. I grew up with the notion that "our bodies are temples" and that we should take care of them and treat them as such. My response, however, is that temples and churches are not just blank walls. They are filled with beautiful statues and mosaics and stained glass windows. They are filled with art. Tattoos to me are art so why not? And what could be a more fitting for a temple than a motto about putting God and others first?

"Are you sure you won't regret it?" Is a phrase I ask myself a lot. Whether it's signing up for an early class for the next semester or ordering Insomnia cookies at 1:45 in the morning, I'm always worried about doing something I'll regret. So naturally, when I decided on my tattoo I was worried about how I would feel about this very permanent mark on my skin 20, 30, even 50 years down the road. The only thing that I could think is: "When in my life am I going to regret getting two words that have significant meaning to my life tattooed on a place where almost no one will ever see them?" The answer is probably never.

Not going to lie, I'm actually terrified of needles so if I'm nervous about anything, it's that this is going to hurt. A lot. But, I know the paint won't last long and out of it, I'll get something that it a constant reminder of who I am and how I want to live my life. Sure I'm excited to be a little rebellious and yes I can't wait to show it off when people ask, but really, I want this because it means something to me. So I understand there is a stigma behind having a tattoo and I'm sure some pole will consider it a "mistake" but to me, it's important. I can't wait for it to be a part of my story.

Love,

Your newly inked friend