Ah, the ever-present debate on tattoos never gets old. Will I be able to get a job? Does it look unprofessional? These are all thoughts that have probably crossed your mind if you’ve ever thought about getting a tattoo and here’s the deal; tattoos used to be a problem. I would know. How you may ask? I have not only one but two primary sources on the subject who remind me every time I mention getting a new tattoo; my parents. They’re baby boomers and the tattoos that people got "back in the good old days" were not exactly… well thought out works of art, if you will. It was something, for the majority, people did for manhood purposes (i.e. "look how manly I am because I'm covered in ink"). My parents even mention sailors or soldiers docking, getting drunk, and getting inked. The tattoos included eagles or just about anything with wings and women without clothes on. God forbid a woman got some ink. I see why my parents have an issue.

Not that it doesn't look totally dope, that was over 70 years ago, this is 2016 (almost 2017) people!

So, I asked some people that I know that have tattoos why they got their ink. I also asked anybody who wants some tats why they wanted to get one. It's pretty obvious that tattoos today are something so much more beautiful than something only soldiers would get.

For those that have tattoos, there were two main responses on why they got their tattoos. First, it was something they had always wanted and had huge significance in their life. It wasn’t just, “so I got a feather because I went skydiving because I felt like, I could like, you know, fly.” They’re commemorative to those we’ve lost and an ode to a passion that we love so dearly. Each one has a beautiful and unique story that pertain to the owner and I believe that’s fitting for putting something permanent on your body for the first time or even the fiftieth time.

The other answer was that the tattoo symbolized an event or change in their life. Whether I talked to someone with or without a tattoo, the story behind their idea is always the most interesting and sometimes most touching. I love to hear about what happened that prompted them to get this small, or large, piece of art on their body to remind them of what happened. I personally have a tattoo that I got after going through a difficult time and it just reminds me to keep holding on to hope. People told me about getting a tattoo because they did something they thought they could never do or became the person that they needed to be and the art is like a nudge saying, “hey, remember where you came from,” or in the great words of Drake, started from the bottom now we here.

For those that are itching for a tattoo but just haven’t gotten one yet, it was pretty much the same response for why that had not happened yet; parents and money. Oh, parents, what are we ever going to do with you, you sillies.

My advice, which I highly advise against, especially if your parents have used the words “I will disown you” when you’ve mentioned tattoos, but hey it’s your call, just go and do it. That’s what I did. I only told two of my friends as I was in the car heading downtown to the shop I had found. I didn't say anything to anyone because I didn't want anyone trying to stop me. I got it done, came home, and hid them (I got two my first time around) for 6 months from my mom, I’m not really sure if my dad knows about all of mine or not.

If it’s money, then you’re SOL. You can always go start a Gofundme page but you better have a good reason behind the ink because no one is going to want to help someone get anything that says something like “I’m with stupid”. Or there's always the job option...

Or we have this fun thing called Christmas coming up, or whatever holiday you celebrate. You can always slide that into casual conversation, “man, I could really use some cash because I’m in college and I’m broke 99.5% of the time.”

But word to the wise, once you get one, you’re going to want another one, and another one, and another one. I recently got my newest installment at Deluxe Tattoo in downtown Chicago. The plan was to get a small one but since I made the drive I figured why not make it worth my while and get two small tattoos. It's the only place I've ever gone and they're awesome.

In the future when answering the question for an employer, will this look professional, just keep it classy. Having an intricate piece of armor inked on your shoulder is not only classy but awesome as hell. If you get a "tramp stamp" (I'm not talking about something that costs $300, I'm talking about that butterfly girls have a tendency to put right over their ass crack) or anything that has any sort of expletive or I don’t know, nudity, for the love of God please make sure that it can be covered. I understand that you like it but your employer probably won’t.

But the most important thing to keep in mind is it's your body and no one else can tell you what you can or can't put on it. Also, it's more than okay to get a tattoo just because you like it and it has absolutely no significant meaning. I have one. It's just a tattoo of lavender. People ask me what it means all the time. My answer: I like the way it smells and it happens to be pretty and I liked it so I got it, thank you very much, and if the asker doesn't like my response then I don't give a flying fork (I'm trying to keep this PG).

But above all,you do you, boo boo.