When getting a tattoo, the first thing you have to consider is, “what do I want?” because no matter what you pick, regardless of whether it is a Bible quote or a picture of Justin Bieber, it will be on your body forever. Placement is a big decision, as well; you have to decide whether you want it to be visible or not. These were all the decisions I’ve encountered over the past couple of months as I decided on what and where to get my first tattoo for my 18^th birthday.

I looked at several different styles, designs, and sizes. When I finally decided on the design, color, and placement, I messaged my tattoo artist and set up a date to get it done. I went on a Friday, and I sat there somewhat nervous. The reason why is because I’ve read many different personal blogs made from other people who got a tattoo; they all said mainly the same things,”The pain of a tattoo depends on the person themselves and the placement.” I know that if you put a tattoo on your side, it will hurt most likely because it’s directly on your rib cage, and once the needle punctures the skin, it also gets closes to the bone, which rattles the whole rib cage, and feels the uncomfortable. If you were to get a simple tattoo on the side of your arm, it wouldn’t hurt as bad because there’s more skin and fat protecting the bone away from the needle. My first initial tattoo was going to be the phases of the moon going down my spine, and that would’ve been such a bad decision because the spine is one of the worst places to get a tattoo. The spine is surrounded by nerve endings. and it would have been extremely uncomfortable. I’m personally glad that I changed my idea. I decided to go with the wrist because it’s pretty easy to bear pain there, and also it’s the only place my choice of tattoo would look right.

I decided to get a lotus flower in the color of purple.  The lotus represents one symbol of fortune in Buddhism. It grows in muddy water, and its environment that gives forth the flower’s first and most literal meaning: rising and blooming above the murk to achieve enlightenment. A purple lotus flower speaks of spirituality and mysticism. Throughout my life, I’ve had some pretty extreme things to happen to someone of my age that you really wouldn’t think I’ve gone through unless I told you. So the lotus flower speaks on many levels to me. I sat there waiting as my artist drew up a design and picked a color scheme. When I had my little consultation with Eric, and I realized it wasn’t going to be too bad, I felt relieved. As Eric started tattooing, it honestly felt somewhat nice. I laughed at first because I figured it was going to hurt, and I was going to cry like a baby. The process took about an hour and a half. Throughout the tattooing process, I kept talking to Eric just to make conversation and not have any awkward silence. Plus, I really like to talk. My favorite thing from that day was when he told me about his favorite tattoo he got to do the week before I came to get mine done. He had tattooed a Raptor Jesus on this man’s upper inner arm. The tattoo only started to hurt a little bit whenever he started to do the coloring. The faces I made were priceless, and the only people to have the pictures of those dreadful faces is my boyfriend, Dylan, and that’s only because I didn’t see him taking them.

Once I was finished, I had a moment of realization that this piece of artwork was going to stay on body for the rest of my life. I don’t regret it though, it means more to me than it just being a purple flower. The day after it hurt to touch, but it was well worth it. It was a very exciting experience, and I can’t wait to build on to this tattoo. I plan on getting an unalome underneath my lotus; the reason why is because the common signification is that they represent the path to enlightenment. The bottom spiral illustrates the struggle with life, struggle that gets thinner as one progress on the path and finally reaches the enlightenment. I don’t plan on going any further up my arm because too many tattoos that are visible can cost you a job. I can say that tattoos aren’t as scary as they seem.