Wednesday 18 July 2012

Tattoo Girl!

My Supervisor was arranging some books on the shelf when I happened to enter the room. She smiled at me and asked me to pass her the books that were lying on the table. As I handed her the books, she suddenly glanced at my wrist and exclaimed, "Wow! Is that a permanent tattoo?"
I nodded my head to indicate a 'yes'.
"Oh!" she said. "You don't seem to be the kind of person who would get herself inked...Was this long ago?"
I was a little annoyed by her caustic remark so I merely shrugged and replied, "Not too long ago...I like tattoos. I, actually, have more than one."
Before she could ask me further questions, I excused myself saying that I have some work to do and I would talk to her later.

Even though my Supervisor was not the first person who had asked me these kind of questions, I must admit that I was quite flustered after this brief incident. In the past, I have experienced people labelling me as 'rebellious' and a 'wild child' merely on account of the fact that I have tattoos. There are some people who do not openly express their disapproval  but ask me questions like, "What will happen when you get bored of it later?" or "Didn't it hurt? Why would you go through so much trouble for that?" It surprises me that most of the time, I find myself getting amused at such questions instead of getting irritated. .

I still remember the day when I got myself inked for the first time. It was three years ago in the month of May, 2009. I had spent almost an entire evening with the tattoo-artist finalizing a design with two of my friends. The next day, I went and got myself inked. It's been more than three years since and today, I have four tattoos on my body and I am open to getting a few more if I want.

Many people do not see the sense in getting tattoos but to me, each tattoo of mine means something. I have the symbol of my zodiac sign - Libra - tattooed on the inner wrist of my right hand. Libra is represented by the scales and Librans are believed to be very balanced individuals. I have tweaked the symbol a little bit to define myself in a better manner. I always believe that I am someone constantly striving for balance but there are times when I feel that I tend to get biased instead of weighing both sides from a neutral standpoint.
Hence, my tattoo is a symbol of scales which are not balanced but tipping to one side more than the other.

I have a star tattooed on my body. It is a symbol of how special and unique I am as a person. It also reminds me that at no point of time in life must I get complacent because every time I should aim to reach for the stars! The star is blue because that happens to be my favourite colour!

I have a butterfly tattoo on my left arm. The butterfly, according to me, symbolizes change. The egg that hatches into a caterpillar; grows into a pupae; and then, finally, metamorphoses, into a butterfly is a beautiful miracle, in my opinion. The butterfly tattoo on my arm reminds me that in the course of my life, there are going to be a lot of changes. The tattoo is a reminder that change is inevitable and even if things appear to be horrible at any particular moment, it does not matter because that horrid moment, too, shall pass.

Finally, on my leg, I have a fairy tattooed. The reason for getting a tattoo on my leg was more for beautification purpose than any other - I had burnt that area of my skin which had resulted in a rather ugly white patch. I had foregone all attire that displayed by legs for almost five years. The reason for choosing the design of a fairy was to remind me that life is magical and no matter how old one grows, one should always continue to believe in the power of imagination and fantasy. For five years, I had covered my legs with full-length jeans and leggings. Today, I flaunt my legs with pride over capris and knee-length skirts. Yes, there was a time when I had body image issues - today, I may not have overcome them all but this tattoo has given me the strength to let go of some of them. Today, I feel beautiful not just from the inside but from my outer appearance as well.

I know that there are some people who completely detest the idea of a tattoo. While everyone is entitled to have an opinion, I think getting a tattoo is just a matter of trusting yourself and understanding that while there will be changes ahead, it is alright to make some moments of your life permanent and forever etch it on  your body...

54 comments:

  1. Oh wow....so many tattoos :)

    I am still just imagining and fantasizing about getting one done. I have not been able to gather the courage to do that. Apart from the pain, the courage to face all the other things you just mentioned here. Maybe I should take some inspiration from you! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha!Ha! Glad I could inspire you :) :) I feel that you are only answerable to yourself - as long as you are comfortable getting a tattoo, what others say does not really matter...My family surprisingly never had any issues with me getting inked - only other people seemed to have issues :P :P

      Delete
  2. BTW, forgot to mention, the fairy one I loved the most. And the most striking part was your each tattoo has a very deep and sacred meaning unlike other people who get inked just for the heck of it..

    Loved you attitude!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I may have 4 tattoos (which seem to be a lot) but I have put a lot of thought behind each one :) I don't think it is wrong to be spontaneous and get a tattoo but getting something that one is likely to regret later is not advisable - I do not understand how people can get the names of their boyfriend or girlfriend inked at the very initial dating period - after a few months, they are running around to undergo laser treatment to remove the tattoo!

      Delete
  3. I am interested in knowing how you overcame the body image issues. actually.. I can hardly imagine you having any body image issues to begin with. But let's leave my imagination out of it. tell me how you overcame it.

    Jitu aka Jyoti

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am many things you imagine me as not! I had a lot of body image issues - to some extent, I still do have them :) There are times I wish I was taller and thinner but then I can't do anything about my height and I have no time to grow thin :P
      I've had funny body image issues, actually - instead of fretting too much about my weight, for example, I have always been paranoid about the "fact" (or rather what according to me is a fact) that I have an obnoxiously large pudgy nose - as a child, I actually believed in the tale of Pinocchio that if you tell a lie, your nose increases in size! Of course, as I grew older that my nose does not shrink even if I tell the truth :P And people around me seem to think that my "long nose" is a figment of my imagination; and so, I have let that go ;)

      The place where I have the fairy tattooed was actually a patch of white skin for almost 5 years. These 5 years I stopped swimming...I stopped wearing skirts...I wore no three-fourths...Basically, I wore nothing that would showcase my legs - people around me misinterpreted that white patch of skin as leukoderma and that really brought down my self-esteem...To this date, I am more comfortable in Indian attire than in Western wear because I feel at ease when my legs aren't exposed - I wasn't like this before :) Of course, the tattoo has changed things - now I like displaying my leg and showing people how pretty it looks! Also, there was a point of time when my friends would keep asking me what that patch on the skin was - after a couple of rounds of explaining, they started ignoring it - the fact that they were not paying attention to that piece of white skin helped me stop obsessing about it so much!

      Delete
  4. About your tattoos...

    Am not sure how I feel. I mean... not wrt you getting a tattoo... but about me getting one. I don't think i'll ever be able to do it.

    which is weird. A tiny part of me wants it I suppose... cause suddenly i am full of envy for you. :D:D:D:D

    Jitu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha!Ha! It's ok if you don't want to get a tattoo :) :) I know the dilemma - Do I? Don't I? What if...
      These questions continue to churn in our minds but it's ok - you don't need to pay attention to all the voices :D :D Sometimes, it's alright to ignore the teeny tiny ones :)

      Delete
  5. That was certainly interesting tale of tattoos Divya:)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I knew only about two.. the butterfly and fairy... u have two more.. :O :O
    awesome!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's funny how you know about my first and fourth tattoo but not about the two I got in between :D

      Delete
  7. Very well written. First time here. I like your writing style.

    Some people will call tattoo is a self mutilation. I see that as living artwork and self expression. I don’t know where you live. But I want to make sure you go to a hygiene place. You wrote:

    “Today, I feel beautiful not just from the inside but from my outer appearance as well.” I saw your profile picture. I agree with you 100%. You are beautiful.

    Did you know indigenous people of Japan, the Ainu, had facial tattoos? Interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I did know about the natives who get facial tattoos..And I do get it from a hygienic place....And thanks for calling me beautiful :)

      Delete
  8. Love it.......... and love the reasons behind the tattoos.... :) Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Priyam :D :D
      *hugs* *hugs* *hugs* Glad you liked it :) We should meet up soon - Hopefully, we will be able to manage to fix up a time that is mutually convenient :)

      Delete
  9. Bhavna Lalwani19 July 2012 at 14:40

    Lovely :)

    Bhavna

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nice Read!!
    I just love tattoos and will surely get at least after 18. Cause that's the age ceytria I believe.
    We shall Call U - "The Girl With Star Tattoo"!!:)
    Why is it that when people see other people with tattoos they assume the worst about that person? They judge that person because of the ink on their skin not the person.
    Its just the thinking!! We cant change it!! Even Dad tells its not good to get inked..........but who cares?? I Surely Will!!
    Tattoos are art. They express the person, people with tattoos are not wild and mean and out of control. They are not outsiders, or heartless, or wild. They are who we are. Different, expressive.They choose to have art on their body.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have more tattoos than just the star to be given that name :P It is alright to love tattoos and contemplate on getting one but one word of advice - it is after all art that is going to be permanently inked on your body...A lot of thought should go into deciding what one wants - you shouldn't regret it later!

      As far as changing the way people think, you can change that! Today, tattoos are more acceptable than they were at one point of time - even older people want to get tattooed these days...It's just a matter of putting things into perspective...

      Yes, tattoos are art - they express different sides of a person. A person with tattoos may be wild but giving him that label on the mere basis of a tattoo is wrong...

      At the end of the day, it's always about choice :)

      Delete
    2. Ya. U have more tattoos other than the star one. but,that name suits the well.like the 'girl with dragon tattoo'.
      Thanxs for the advice , I have wasted a lot of time thinking on this topic and have come to conclusions on getting one.

      yes,the thinking of people have changed but the family members never give the allowance to get inked.I have just seeked the allowance of mom last Saturday while reading T2's article on tattoos and getting inked.

      yes agreed....on that point of urs. and my choice always remain to get one.:)

      Delete
    3. Glad to see you permission :) If you've decided to get one, wait till you are 18 and get inked :)

      Delete
    4. Ya sure........:) Would love to....cant wait!!

      Delete
    5. Wait Wait..."Sabra ka phal meetha hota hai!!"

      Delete
  11. Oh!! I just love Tattoos Very Much!! I am Getting inked next year if they don't have the age thing. I love ur tattoos .........I have seen them before also.....I wished to meet u and ask u several questions in personal.......u writings are splendid.
    Chaitanya Srivastava is very lucky to have u as his aunt.a girl with many interests.He has given me all the possible information about u and ur tattoos.
    I hope u write more!!
    Keep posting!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Get tattoos after you turn 18 (my advice to you!) - I am glad that you love my tattoos and my writings..Thank you very much for the appreciation :)

      It's alright to love tattoos but be 100% sure about what you want tattooed on your own body - admiring tattoos of others is one thing but having one on your own body is a different ball-game altogether...There are prettier tattoos I have seen than the ones I have...There are people who do not like certain things about my tattoo but what you see inked on my body - I have paid attention to each and every detail and given everything a lot of thought. The fairy design, for instance, took the tattoo-artist 3 hours to sketch what I had in mind and another hour to finalize the colours...

      As far as having many interests goes, don't we all have diverse interests?? If we ever meet in person, I'd be glad to answer your queries :)

      Delete
    2. Thanxs for ur advice.Even the Tattoo artist said the same!

      I have always loved tatttoo and always wanted to get a butterfly on my waist,a girl with white flowers on my leg, a star with my name on it on my back neck and the sign of life and death on my wrist.

      U are absolutely correct that we should be sure what we want to get tattooed on our body.Cause once we have got it I cant regret later. then i have to go through all those laser treatment which will cause more pain than getting inked.

      Yes, we all have diverse interests but to me u seem a girl with many interests.........even do some match with me.

      I love tattoos as i said. but just one thing i am scar off that is the pain I will have to bear.Nothing else!!:)

      Delete
    3. The pain isn't much - trust me! Anticipation of pain hurts more than the pain itself :P I like some of the designs you have thought of getting for yourself - any reason for choosing them? I'd like to know if you have no issues sharing them :)

      Delete
  12. Hi Divya

    I want to be frank here. When I see people with tattoos, I definitely feel 'Why do they want to go about doing all this and make permanent marks on their bodies?That too in a painful way' :D

    Your reasoning was interesting.

    I just finished reading 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' You remind me of that :)

    My first visit to your blog. Great writing :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jaish!!

      Getting a tattoo isn't as painful as some people anticipate it to be :P :P

      Do keep dropping by :) :) Glad you enjoyed my writing :)

      Delete
  13. Nice writing :) I too want a tattoo..I want to get inked one day,,But zoo many times I just chickened out! really..

    love
    http://www.meghasarin.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha!Ha! Yes many people tend to chicken out but trust me - it isn't that painful!!

      Delete
  14. wow..never thought there could be so much meaning and thought behind tattoos.
    We are all judgmental people waiting to form opinions with very little facts. It is great that you are comfortable in your skin and proud of your attitude.
    Way to go girl!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :) :) :) We all form opinions of every little thing in the world - I don't think forming opinions is an issue...Stereotyping and forming misconceptions is where the problem lies :)

      Delete
  15. Very beautiful thoughts .. So well written too ..
    It was such a pleasure to read this post Divya ..
    People with tattoos are usually viewed as very temperamental and spur of the moment types .. You have totally disproved that perception with your mind blowing reasoning behind each of the tattoos that you have on yourself ..
    Am so glad to have come across someone who thinks and lives life .. With such beautiful thoughts too at that!! Such people have become so hard to come by ..
    Keep writing .. I just love the way you think and express :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am glad I could eliminate some misconceptions :)
      And thank you so much for those wonderful words :) :) I am truly humbled :) :) I am glad I could create that space for myself in your life :)

      Delete
  16. I LOVED this post. There is such a beautiful story and such a deep story behind each tattoo. :) Kudos to you!

    I have seen people get tattoos just because it is cool - with no real motive behind it.I am not sure if that is the right way to go about it, but if one is as sure of the messages one wants to convey through one's tattoos, I think one should just go ahead and get inked!

    I don't think I am ready to get one done yet. Or if I will get one done ever.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You :) Whether one wants to get a tattoo or not is a personal choice...And why one decides to get a tattoo - I guess that is also their choice :) :)

      Delete
  17. Love the post...Call it fate (if you believe in it) that you replied to my post on Mr. Pinto's Blog and I stumbled upon your blog. It's extremely interesting and is gonna serve me nights of reading now! :)
    I know this is something you've heard before, but I honestly find a lot of similarity in both our writing style and in fact perspectives too :) It would be interesting to meet you someday and see how similar :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do believe in fate :) It is surprising how paths of 2 different people meet :) We were both in Christ but never met then...Hopefully we shall meet someday *touch wood*

      I am glad you liked my writing and so happy to hear that we think in a similar fashion :) It's always a pleasure to meet like-minded souls ;)

      Stay in touch!

      Delete
  18. Ha ! why did i have a feeling you were close to Librans ..
    better , YOU are a libran :D
    Me too and I understand what you say about being balanced....

    I love your tattoos ! I always wanted one and now I have promised myself t have one as a wedding gift. till then , my mom might not appreciate me getting inked so I am gonna wait :D

    specially loved your leg tattoo !
    I like angel figures. and thats what I intend to get too ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So cool!! It's always nice to meet a fellow Libran :) :) Share the picture of your tattoo when you get one!

      Delete
    2. you bet !
      there would be a full post on blog(s)
      :D

      Delete
    3. gosh ! you and me are fast in replies :P

      Delete
    4. The perks of being online at the same time!

      Delete
    5. yep !
      still .. i rarely come across some one who replies each and every comment promptly :)

      Delete
    6. It could be because both of us are Librans and have similar tendencies or traits ;)

      Delete
    7. yes. it can be so ;)
      *why did i not think that* :P

      Delete
    8. stop ! talking to you is addictive fun :P

      Delete
    9. Buzz me on chat or Twitter...Gmail: divya.srivastava1989@gmail.com and Twitter handle is DivyaDazzles

      Delete
  19. Wow! One I didn't know you were a blogger too....so sorry for not checking out your blog earlier!

    I wanna get a tattoo too. My mind is still processing though, on what I want and where I want it to be. I think it is the "permanent" thing that gets people off. I kind of understand what people mean. However I see no sense in people labeling those who have tattoos. To each his own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No issues :) And it is always difficult - the entire process of selecting a design and then deciding where you want it :) :) It's permanent so of course it should never be done in a rush :P

      Delete