A BLOG BY LINDSY READ

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Link Up: Tattoo Stories

Tattoos are strange because they're private and public. Private, because they often have deep, personal meaning; and public because they are art exposed on your skin for the world to see. Most tattooed people prefer not to talk about their tattoos. I’ve always found that strange. Tattoos are personal, meant to be enjoyed by the body they cover, and yet they are there for everyone to see.

The tattoo culture has always fascinated me. When I was a kid, it seemed as though tattoos were reserved for the military, prisoners, and rock stars. I dumped a guy I was dating in high school because he said he wanted sleeve tattoos and I couldn’t imagine myself with someone with sleeve tattoos. I did not want to be white trash. And, now, here I am a decade later with more tattoos that I can count and a husband with a three-quarter sleeve (and Abraham Lincoln on his thigh).

What I find interesting is that the tattoo culture is no longer a sub-culture. Soccer moms have tattoos, grandparents are getting fresh ink, and it feels like everyone has one or everyone wants one.  Readers, do you have any tattoos?  Do you want tattoos?  Share them here with my first ever LINK UP!!!  If you have a post about your tattoos already, share it.  If you want to write a new post about your tattoos, share it, just for me, please!!!  If you want to blog about why you don't have tattoos, share it.  If you want to blog about what tattoos you would get if you could, share it!

Dan and I, our first tattoos.  Photo by ©Jaquilyn Shumate Photography, 2008.

To enter, click below on the blue text:  Click Here to Enter and follow the instructions.  It's that simple!  Include our little button on your blog, if you will.  Thanks for linking up and sharing your stories!

LMrphotos


11 comments:

  1. awesome! I love tribute tattoos and it's so cool that you got your grandma's signature. very unique! i love it.

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  2. I love your ambition and positive atttiude. Thank you for sharing!

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  3. When I first got my tattoo everyone in my family flipped out! I got purpose written on my left foot with a cross. So I had to post this on my Facebook to calm everyone. lol it explains everything and I just figured I'd use the same thing for here. :)
    For all of you who believe my tattoo is stupid or meaningless or thought it was a spur of the moment not well thought out tattoo, i am telling you you're wrong. My tattoo has several meanings.... First and foremost I decided to get "Purpose" written on my left foot as a reminder that I am here for a purpose. Most of you who know me know that my left foot is deformed due to my mom not knowing she was pregnant with me and taking birth control. The doctors told her that I was going to be deformed and disabled and she considered having an abortion with me. Obviously she didn't and the only thing that was deformed was my left foot. I am here for a purpose. This is my reminder. Second, I added the cross at the end to know that every step I take I should walk with purpose, and walk humbly with God. My life wasn't saved, to get a job and sit in a cubicle. God is calling me to so much more than that. My life has purpose. Third, is Proverbs 16:9, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."I know God will guide me and show me where to go. This is also my reminder of that. Fourth, I drew my own tattoo and designed it... So it will always be a remembrance of where I was in life when I got this tattoo. It's my handwriting, my thought, and no one else has this same exact tattoo as me. I'm not asking you to like my tattoo. To be honest I don't care. I'm the one who has to live with it, and I love it! For those of you who are against tattoos, thats fine, and I respect that. But we all have our flaws, and faults, and Christ still ask us to love and accept each other, not to judge one another. (Matthew 7:1) Thank you for the support, love you guys. and this will be my one and only tattoo. And Im thankful for my sister in Christ who blessed me with this gift. I will always walk with a reminder that my life has purpose in the One who made me, saved me, and changed me. And each day I strive to live out the purpose He has for my life.

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  4. I love my tattoos! And like you, when I was younger wouldn't date any one with a tattoo. I got my first tattoo when I was 23. They are three blue stars on the arch of my right foot. They represent the trinity and the reminder that God loved us so much He made the stars and everything in space to show us His greatness and love. When I was 18 I had a questioning time in my life as where I should be as a person and Christian, aside from my parents rules and home. The stars always brought be back to Christ. I got them on the arch of my foot cause I used to do pointe and always wanted a tattoo there, also thought my mom wouldn't see them! Wrong! hahahah! My second I got on the year anniversary of my favorite grandmas death. I know you shouldn't have favorites but she was one of the only Godly women examples I had in my life and loved any one unconditionally. We also shared a special bond and I cried the whole time while they were inking it on me. Its her signature with a dark pink star, which is her favorite color and my favorite object (star)! I do want more, they are addicting. I have my third and fourth ones planned and have for many years. My ring finger is getting a hebrew wedding band and I'm getting on the hebrew names of God on my right wrist. My dad might hate me for that one. One thing I love about where I live is, like you said everyone has them! Every age and race and range of person has a tattoo and we have some amazing artists here! I love mine cause they are reminders of things and how I should be as a person. :D

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  5. Make sure you think about it for a loooooong time! :)

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  6. I dont want BB getting any tattoos! Isn't that totally hypocritical? If he DOES choose to get one, I am going with Ruthy's advice... wait until you're older!

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  7. I've thought about it, and I think I'd like to get one, but first I have to figure out what. I know it'll be something related to my faith, but I don't want it to be generic, y'know? I figure I'll know it when I see it. :)

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  8. sorry this was too long, i need to start blogging again!

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  9. My tattoo story doesn't really merit a whole post (spontaneous teenage decision) but this is kind of funny... when I first showed my mom, she didn't believe it was real! Three years later she saw it again and then she finally understood. Lol. Also... my parents put it in their divorce agreement that only my mom had jurisdiction over tattoos and piercings. Would you let BB get one before 18?

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  10. I blogged a short blog about my tattoo and future tattoos!


    Mel -- givebacktoday.blogspot.com

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Thank you so much for commenting! I love feedback and I read every comment and would love to respond to you! If you want to be notified of a response, click that little "notify me" box! xo, Lindsy

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