12 Readers Share Their Meaningful Tattoos

I think tats are beautiful. True art. I have watched tats done from start to finish, even attended a class. Because of a skin condition, I can’t enjoy the experience myself. I wear temporary tats like a piece of jewelry. There are beautiful temp tats for those of us unable to make the commitment. But I love the art form and the messaging.

My dad passed away four years ago, and every day without him still hurts like hell. Last year my mom gave me a letter he wrote her right after she gave birth to me — he wasn’t allowed to the hospital, so this was the only way to cheer her up and say hi to his daughter. The letter ends in “I love you very, very much”. I have this “love you” in his handwriting tattoed in my arm, and this is the most cherished tattoo i have.

As a tattooed person, one thing I really want to highlight is the importance of asking people permission to ask about their tattoos. I have had a lot of people in public (strangers) effectively invite themselves to ask deeply private questions about my tattoos. I’ve declined those questions a number of times and it’s always resulted in these weird interactions where I seem like a jerk. But you know, you are not entitled to another person’s tattoo story just because that tattoo is visible. Some people like talking about it, some people don’t. Personally, I find it invasive and difficult. It’s also a frustrating cultural expectation—some of my tattoos don’t actually have a big meaning, or some of them I’ve had for over twenty years and don’t think about very much. So while I absolutely love these stories, it’s worth remembering that not everyone loves discussing their tattoos and that you should always ask if it’s ok with them. If someone says no, take it with grace!

Jenny, as a fellow physician – yes, you WILL get there – you are my f’ing hero. Rock ON and thank you for the incredibly meaningful, important, and lifesaving care you will provide!

Joanna I am still so honored that you featured this calligraphy tattoo I created so many years ago; I still have people hire me because of it! Thank you again! https://cupofjo.com/2010/01/calligraphy-tattoo/

i have two tattoos (though more are to come)
my first one is of a deer–i got it when i came out as trans
the second one is moomintroll with flowers. i got it because growing up my nickname was moomin, and also because my dog had recently passed away and she’d always reminded me of moomintroll (she was small, white, and chunky). the flowers with it represent resilience and i’ll wait for you

I love all these tattoos and the stories behind them! <3

Jenny, from one doc (first and only medical person from my blue collar family), you are amazing. You will fulfill your dreams.

I love the look of the new website but I do miss the chronological posts. It’s hard to tell what’s newest these days and I’m think I’m missing posts. Like the one about coparenting I don’t see that on the page unless I search for it. Thank you for entertaining me and introducing me to new lipsticks and ideas for years and years!

My only tattoo commemorates my first born daughter who was still born at 38 weeks. We lived Texas at the time so it’s Texas bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush with a monarch butterfly. I absolutely adore my tattoo and feel as if she’s always with me. I’m now contemplating tattoos for the two miscarriages I had as well as my two living amazing boys.

A little blue heart for a little Blue cat: I have a little blue heart in commemoration of my little cat Blue, whoe died at 21. She loved sleeping with her head in my right hand, her paw resting on my wrist. The tatoo is in that same spot. One my current cats, Poppy, has a similar habit, and her paw often rests on the little Blue heart.

Jenny – As a woman in Texas who also comes from strong small town women, I can not tell you how much this means to me. We’re all still fighting.

I’d been thinking about it for a while but I finally got a semicolon tattoo on the nape of my neck. ““A semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you, and the sentence is your life,”

Lynn, your tattoo for your brother and sister is beautiful. Losing two siblings in one year is really brutal, I’m so sorry. Thank you for sharing them with us in this small way xx

LOVE this post–I am 51 and have 4 tattoos, planning my next one. my first was a little Eeyore at the top of my thigh when I was maybe 23–just silly. The next three are meaningful. An outline of a rabbit with a red heart inside for my soul bunny who died several years ago, the phrase Not Broken Just Bent from P!nk on my ankle–it was a hell of year two years ago, and a phrase from my most favorite book on my hip: there are no others, you’re the only one, meant for my husband after a particularly hard period that we got through, but also a beautiful part of the book. The last one–joke’s on me–he walked out of our 26 year marriage in May to move in with his 12-years-younger girlfriend who he had been canoodling with for two years and her two kids. Ah well. He was the love of my life for many years, I’m only sorry I gave that feeling to a liar and a cheater Next tat is from a book by that same author–a symbol of key lines–lines of power running across the globe.

I’ll be getting my first tattoo soon, of my dogs’ names (I could cry just thinking about them!) and am finalizing the kind of design I want. Both of my dogs were rescues and have now passed (in 2012 and 2020) and because I’m single and they each lived with me, on our own, I’m the only person in the world who really knew them (I’m crying now) and both were cremated, so I want to have a permanent memorial to them in the form of a tattoo on my arm. Adopt Don’t Shop!

The chickadees made me cry. So beautiful.

Right on! These are all so beautiful.

In my first year as a teacher, one of my first grade students died in a fire with just a week of school left in our time together. When I was cleaning out her desk, I found a journal entry to the prompt “if I had wings”….she wrote “I’d fly to Heaven and see my Grandpa”. She drew a sweet little image of herself and her grandpa as birds and I had her bird tattooed on my foot. She still guides me. Teachers learn so much from their students. She’s impacted my life deeply.

Your readers are just the coolest. I wanted this post to go on forever. More please!

When I lost my soul-dog, who I spent a decade with and otherwise mostly alone during my twenties, I got his name tattooed on my wrist. It was strangely healing, knowing that he’d be with me always, and it took a lot of the weight of grief of my shoulders.

Five years later and no longer alone, I’m carrying our rainbow baby. I hope to get a tattoo in honor of him or her when they arrive.

Theresa, you’re a badass! Love it!

I grew up in an era where females with tattoos were almost unheard-of, and I loved seeing these! Jenny: we need more docs like you! And I want to learn more about Ogham – very cool. Thanks for the post, COJ.

On our honeymoon in Kauai, Hawaii, my husband and I got matching tattoos of our new family monogram on our backs. (Big last name initial with our first name initials on either side.) Years later, we had a baby and took her to Kauai, where we got her first name initial added to our monogram at the same tattoo shop. Now that she’s a little older, she thinks it’s so cool and says she can’t wait to turn 18 and get the same tattoo on her own back. (But something tells me the last thing a moody teenager will want is their family tattooed on them, haha.)

When I lost my grandmother I desperately wanted something to remain connected to her, I felt like I was losing grip with someone who was so important to me. I was looking at designing a pendant, not dissimilar to one she wore with her initials when it dawned on me… I need a tattoo, something that I can hug forever and always. Our jam was Scrabble so I got a tile with the letter ‘B’ for her name (Bunny) and it’s surrounded by her favourite flowers (purple pansies). It’s as badass as it gets :)