Why I'm sick of being judged for things I put on my body.

"What are you going to do when you have to wear a wedding dress?"

"You're going to regret that"

"That's trashy"

"Are you sure you want that? It's permanent"

Some people see it as self-expression. Some people see it as a way to remember. Some people see it as a way to cure boredom. Some people see it as making yourself unemployable. Some people see it as a waste of money.

In society today, body art such as tattoos and piercings are very common. In fact, they are accepted. There are a lot of things about our generation that are looked down upon by the previous generation. Some things I agree with, some I don't. Everyone has different opinions of tattoos and piercings. But, for the most part, I don't agree with the ideas that they are a waste of money, trashy, or anything else negative.

Here are my reasons why:

1. This is my body, not yours. What I do with my body is not in an act to please you. Just like changing my hair style, hair color, painting my nails, etc. It's a way of making myself even more unique. What I do with my body really doesn't affect you, so please don't badger me with your negative comments.

2. My tattoos are meaningful. I don't have a random animal or a word written in Chinese tattooed above my ass, but I do have two very meaningful tattoos on my body. My tattoos connect me with other people and other places that are very dear to me. My mother has the same quote as me on her foot, a quote that is about the passion that we both share--dance. My cousins have the same tattoo as me, but in different places of the body, the coordinates of our favorite place that reminds us of our childhood. If you're lucky enough to have something in your life that is meaningful enough that you want it permanently etched into your skin for the rest of your life, why does anyone else's opinion matter?

3. If someone wants to use tattoos and piercings as a way of self-expression, understand that they probably don't care if you can see it under their clothes. Body modification is made for people to see your personality, not hide it!

Everyone has different opinions of tattoos and piercings. Just like everyone has different opinions of music, food, and clothes. So don't go nagging someone for their choices of what they want to do with their own body. Just like you wouldn't comment negatively on someone's choice of music, because it is something they like and a way they express themselves, don't comment negatively on someone's body art.