Valentine's Day, Love & Tattoos

Flowers wilt and die, Candy melts, Cards can be burned or thrown out, and stuffed animals can be ripped apart. Lets be honest here..."love" doesnt always last. And feelings dont always stay the same over time. We've all been there. Where we couldnt be happier to see someone and they always put a smile on your face...but then after a while things fade and the cute flaws from the beginning become just down right annoying. ...Well, thats a best case scenario. Its happened to the best of us. We get dumped or we do the dumping.

When Valentine's day or birthdays come around people always search for that "perfect gift" for their loved one. Along the way someone decided that the best way to show your devotion and love is by getting some ink. WRONG.

Getting a person's name tattooed on you has to be one of the biggest cliches in the book. But it is also a recipe for disaster and failure. At the time you may look at that person and think "Im going to spend the rest of my life with this girl or guy". I cant hold anyone responsible for having that feeling, because at one point or another ive felt it.

But Contrary to popular belief, the permanence of your tattoo will not ensure the permanence of the relationship. It actually tends to be the complete opposite. and shortly after the tattoo has healed...the relationship has ended.

So what do you do when Kelly, Joe, Tom or Katie rips your heart out of your chest? You now have a painful reminder every day, and its not something you can just throw out, and even if you cover it up you still know its there. My best suggestion is to avoid names altogether. Do a design or picture that has signifigance instead of a name and date. If youre commemorating a broken heart or eternal love...stick with something abstract or a piece of art...not a name.

The only time names really are acceptable are when it is something permanent. Like a child, family memeber, or someone who has died. Remembering someone through a permanent mark is much different then comemorating a relationship. It has solidity. Your children will always be your children. Same with your parents. And death is one of the most permanent fixtures in our lives. So really think twice about getting that tattoo for the girl or guy youre seeing. It'll cost you a lot less to get a symbol than it will to cover it up later on down the line. And it will be a lot less painful than trying to explain yourself to any future girlfriends or boyfriends.

Happy Valentine's Day. Haha