List: What Mandy Loves About Tattoos

If you squint and tilt your head to the side a bit looking at the picture to the right, you'll see I currently have ONE tattoo - in my ear.  It's an omage to my hippie-kid self and an obvious love of peace and tranquility and all that junk, but it's also in a neat spot and easy to hide with hair.

My love for tattoos has grown since that day after my 18th birthday when I was FINALLY able to get one of my own.  I have plans for several more, even promising my 30-year-old self she'd have at least SIX by that birthday.  I need to catch up!

There are a lot of things most do not like about tattoos (pain, commitment, money, etc), but I love it all.  Here's more specifically what I love about tattoos:

• Unlimited expression.  Tattoos are most definitely art, and that tattoo artists who jam the needle to the skin are insanely talented in an infinite number of ways.  So are those who wear the art!

• Show off your personality without saying a word.  Clothes or no, these time capsules for your skin show the world who you are, who you were, and what you love 24 / 7 / 365 / FOR LIFE.

• The attention (or the positive kind).  I can be a "look at me" girl sometimes with what I wear and how I act, but my introverted self does not always show off my outgoing side.  My peace sign in my ear has been the subject of compliments and is a great conversations starter.

• All the tatted up folks I know and have met are the nicest people.  The stereotype of a "thug" covered head to toe being a jerk or criminal or something is 99% wrong these days, at least in my experience.

• They're not necessarily permanent now.  Tiny mistakes to large bad decisions can be covered up with something better or removed with a laser, That's a lot of time and money to put in for that mistake, but thank goodness we have those options.