Coming from a big extended family where my brother and I are the only ones on both sides with tattoos, and my family is not afraid to express how they feel about body art, I understand what it is like to always feel judged for having them. Family members, adults I know personally, and even random strangers I have met while I'm out and about have made me feel ashamed for putting ink on my skin, judging me and telling me things such as "You'll never have a job!" or "Think about how bad those will look when you are older". I used to let it get to me more than I should have, and would want to cover up my entire body so no one would know I have them, but then I realized- why should I allow people to make me feel bad about what I do with my own body? People are going to judge you no matter what you do in this world, but you should never let anyone make you feel shame for putting what YOU like on YOUR body!

Your body is your own temple, and the only person with complete control over it is you-so if you decide you want to put artwork you enjoy on it, you are allowed! Tattoos are another way for people to express themselves, and so you should never let anyone make you feel bad for expressing yourself in a unique way. Some people will tell you that you won't be able to get a job with a tattoo, but it is 2016 and tattoos are not as much of an issue anymore with a lot of careers, especially if you are able to cover them up with clothing. A tattoo says nothing about a person's worth, value, intelligence, or character, and if somebody tries to judge those qualities in you off of a tattoo-then that says something about their character.

Now tattoos are permanent, so if you do decide that you want to put something on your skin that is meaningful to you, make sure you will be okay with it later in life, and if you want to have a certain career that is still not fond of body ink-make sure you are able to cover them appropriately when needed. However, if you have a small tattoo that no one but you will see, or if you have multiple tattoos all over your body, it will personalize you in a way that makes you unique, and you should be proud of it! Never let anyone make you feel ashamed for being who you are, especially for the way that you express yourself.