Long story, but this meant so much to me. I was in class today, and our professor asked us, "What is your favorite thing?" It sounds like a simple question, but I'd never really thought about it. I sat and thought about it for about 3 minutes, but my thoughts always directed me back to my tattoos. He ended up asking everyone what they thought of for their answer, and eventually he asked me. When I told him that my favorite thing was my tattoos, I heard a couple sighs of disapproval. My professor, however, was intrigued. He asked why, and I told him, "Every tattoo I have holds a memory or a feeling that means a lot to me. Most people look at my tattoos and just see a pretty picture, or they disapprove, but to me my tattoos bring my best thoughts, feelings, and memories to real life. They take a normally invisible thing, and they make it tangible and visible." He said wow, and asked if I minded sharing something about one of them. I looked over my arms trying to think of one to talk about, and someone behind me asked about the hearts. I thought for a moment and said, "These are pixel hearts, which come from my love of video games, but they also have a deeper meaning. Hearts in video games represent your lives. My hearts represent what gives me life. I have three: one for my family, who's always been there for me; one for my friends, who choose to stand by me even without an obligation to; and one for me, to remind me to love myself." The room was quiet for a moment, and then everyone started clapping for me. My teacher said, "That's beautiful." It doesn't seem like much, but this moment meant so much to me. I knew good and well when I got my tattoos that I was going to have to hide them for jobs and other situations, and that I did this myself, but at the same time I dislike doing it because I feel like I'm having to hide myself. This moment meant a lot to me because in a world full of sideways glances and overall disapproval, I had a moment to share the beauty I see in myself.
