T... A... T...

  photo credit: Pinterest

Flashback to a thirteen year old me who's alter ego was a Gothic-punk red hair girl, I had a crazy to-do bucket list. Some things off the list includes getting piercings everywhere possible, get a ratchet hair cut, and full sleeve tattoos. Eventually got just one extra ear piercing, got an haircut although it was not ratchet but never a tattoo. Is there one thing you always wanted to do but just cannot do because of a reason or the other? Well for me, it getting permanent tattoos. I LOVE tattoos. 

 

 As a young girl I wanted so much to grow up and be able to get tats without anybody chewing my head off (whispers parents). By the time I grew up, at least old enough to take such decisions without recourse to anybody, I had learnt it is not permissible based on my religious belief. This however did not stop my appreciation of tattoos on people.  

 

Body art; some with cultural significance (e.g. Tā moko by the Māori), sentimental tattoos or just random expressions on the body, is yet to be widely accepted in some climes like mine. This further reinforced the decision of not getting my dream tattoos. Especially for people who work in the corporate (should I say formal sector) world, tattoos are best kept hidden. This stereotyping of people with tattoo was resounded in the recent #EndSARS protest in Nigeria against police brutality: "dreadlocks and tattoos no mean say I be yahoo yahoo boy..."

  photo credit: Pinterest

 

To me, every mark tells a story. People get tattoos to celebrate victories, hide defects, make a statement or just experimenting. Names or/and pictures of loved one, signs and symbols representing beliefs, getting tats can be therapy to some people. Although, I'd admit some body arts go overboard in my opinion as well, with extremes like inking the egg balls, scarification, epidermal implants and the sorts. Moderation is key in everything but well, I have learnt my definition of moderate will never be the same has the next person's.

Temporary tattoos, especially those made with henna; are permissible alternates to permanent inks. I might get a big design in henna one day for temporary gratification. Or not, and just focus on my new bucket list with sky diving at the top of the page.

 

...xoxo...