
Getting a tattoo might be the closest you ever come to actually wearing your emotions on your sleeve. Whether it’s a heart or a skull, each design tells a story, represents a unique perspective, and captures the imagination of the onlooker. While some tattoos have deliberate meanings, others take on new meaning with time.
We wanted to learn more about the emotional process behind getting a tattoo, so we asked people all over the world about their personal stories. We also explored how they felt about their tattoos months and years later down the road. Below, you’ll find a collection of personal accounts, which tell compelling stories about tattoos and fate. Read on, and you may be surprised by how tattoos have impacted people’s lives.
Jessica, Conquering Personal Struggle

Emily, Fostering Positive Relationships

Gisela, Personal Progress

Sarah, Paying it Forward

Kristy, Appreciating Beauty

Amelia, Self-Empowerment
Amelia was able to transition from homelessness to owning a successful business. She taught herself by reading at the local bookstore. Although she had thought about a tattoo, she finally decided to get a one of a sentence she encountered while reading a poem. This poem reminded her that she had the power to make her own life better. Q: Is there a special story behind your tattoo? A: “I grew up in foster care, celebrated my 20th birthday homeless on the streets of New Orleans, and stumbled into a career that was actually something I could do really well. Ten years was all that separated me from being homeless and hungry, to being a business owner with employees, a home, and friends. Since I didn't have any college education, I spent most of my early years as a business owner trying to give myself an education via Barnes and Noble. It was there that I saw a line which I never forgot. A poem titled, ‘Invictus’. There was a line in there that stayed with me; "It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." On my left arm, left because it's closest to my heart, I have written "I am the Master of my Fate, I am the Captain of my Soul." It was my 30th birthday present to myself.”Erica, Inspiring Friendship

Leigh, Honouring a Positive Influence

Debra, Family Matters

Courtney, Valor
Courtney’s tattoo reminds her to respond to overwhelming situations by taking proactive action. When she reads her quote tattoo, she’s able to gain control over her fears, and handle the tasks before her. Q: Is there a special story behind your tattoo? A: “I have "I am not afraid, I was born to do this" tattooed on my ribs. I got it done right before I was deployed to Afghanistan for a year because I was about to go lead troops in a combat zone, and I was really scared that I wasn't going to measure up, and that they would end up getting hurt. I had to just stop and remind myself to not be afraid-this is what I was meant to do. It was my first tattoo and my favorite. Whenever I would start worrying, it helped ground me and just focus on DOING, rather than worrying.”
Reading these unique personal accounts, it’s clear that tattoos have the power to transform and guide one’s outlook on life. Whether your design is an important loved one’s saying, like Leigh’s tattoo, or a line of poetry that really resonates with you, like Amelia’s, tattoos can act as a positive influence on your mindset, and help you to remember what you value. Sometimes, tattoo designs represent obstacles overcome or hardship endured, like Gisela’s lotus flower, which reminds her that she survived an extremely challenging period in her life. In many ways, tattoos mark one’s individuality: they represent love for art, meaningful relationships, personal resilience, and much more. If you have any interesting stories to share, let us know about them in the comments section below!
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