As artwork permanently inked into human skin is becoming more and more popular today, I figured it was a relevant topic to discuss.

Tattoos have become much more acceptable today than they were years ago. Based on scholarly research, those who got tattooed even 20 years ago, were in one category and those who did not were in another. Today, you wouldn’t be able to guess who has tattoos and where those tattoos are. I know girls who go to church everyday or who have never had a sip of alcohol in their lives, with massive back tattoos. The stereotype of tattoos has almost vanished and anyone today may be hiding a meaningful and symbolic tattoo.

So ask yourself this, does having tattoos define who you are today?

I believe that having tattoos shouldn’t be a category you are placed into, but a way to express who you are and what you are passionate about. Heck, you better be passionate about it if you are marking your body up permanently.

Some people get tattoos to remember people they have loved and lost, some people get tattoos of inspiration that keep them moving forward, and some get stupid drunk tattoos because their friends told them to do it. Any way you look at it, each tattoo will typically have some sort of meaning or memory behind it.

So if you ask me, no, I do not think tattoos should define who someone is but simply allows them to express their feelings and emotions.

Do I have tattoos?

Yes, I do… But you probably wouldn’t know if you saw me.

I have one tattoo on my rib cage that says “I’ll love you forever, I’ll live you for always, as long as I’m living.” This is to symbolize the relationship I have with my family. My mother use to read this to me and my siblings every night before we went to sleep. Before my sister moved away, we both got this tattoo to symbolize our strong bond and to remember that no matter where in the world we were, we would always be there for each other. Label it the way you want, but no matter how cheesy or lame this may sound, it has always brought a smile to my face when I’m feeling alone or sad.

The other tattoos I have, as you may have seen in photos, are dandelions floating in the wind. I call these little things ‘wish fairies.’ A dandelion is one of the only plants that has the ability to seed all over the globe. The light weight seeds have a small propeller like wing on them that allows them to travel for days, months, years. Similarly, I like to think that I symbolize that of a dandelion. I love travel and I would love to experience every country across the globe. I strive to be light weight, with little luggage, little materialism but a big heart. Thus, in each continent I travel to, I get one wish fairy tattooed behind my ear to represent my passion for independence to roam free and to travel.

You’re probably wondering by now why I have wrote a blog on tattoos when I usually focus on budget travel and inspiration. Well, given that a lot of my inspiration comes from travel and the more my passion grows for new experiences and new cultural memories, the more I want to make it a permanent memory. I know all I need to do is take a photograph and keep it forever, but I wanted something that I could look at every morning and remember that my life is great, I am happy and I am loved.

So, for travelers like myself who enjoy a simplified lifestyle with no clutter and like to see the world as your oyster, what better way to cherish memories than to hold them with you at every waking moment?

Lastly, yes, tattoos are addictive and yes, the sensation is kind of neat…. So yes, I probably will get more! 🙂

Looking for some more travel inspiration: Why You Should Travel Now, How to Create Your Own Blog, How to Break Out of Habit and Travel the World, The Best Quotes to Inspire You to Travel, The Bucket List.