I have a tattoo above my ankle.

It's a teddy bear holding a heart with my husband's name in it.My husband sports one just like it on his arm with my name in the heart.We had them done the week after we got married and I was 28 years old at the time.I don't know what we were thinking.I guess I was just giddy in love and thought it would be "cute" and he just wanted to make me happy.While I do not regret getting a tattoo, I do wish I would have thought about it a little more so that I could have picked something different or designed my own.When I was young, tattoos were mostly associated with biker types and guys who had been in prison.Women were considered trashy and cheap if they had ink on their bodies.My mother got a tattoo of a starburst on her leg many years ago.She was so proud of it for the longest time.Someone must have really said something negative to her as she went through several procedures to have it removed via laser.She said people looked at her strangely and thought less of her for having it.I don't know why.While she did work in a prison and then for the PA State Police, she wasn't a biker and she certainly wasn't cheap or trashy.She was just a typical mom.I saw a waitress in a diner not so long ago who had to wear stretchy arm covers in order to hide her tattoos.I thought it was ridiculous.Having a tattoo didn't make her any less of a waitress.I saw some of the colors peeking out and thought them to be pretty.Today I read a short article about a barista who was given an ultimatum regarding a tiny tattoo of a heart on her hand: Remove it or be fired.She has been employed at that establishment for five years and routinely covers it up with makeup.After being at a job for five years, one can only assume that she must be a decent employee.So how does having a little tattoo on her hand or a big one on any other part of her body, make her unable to perform the required tasks of her position?I know doctors and lawyers who have tattoos and they are excellent at what they do.So my question is, who cares?Unless a tattoo depicts violence, nudity, gang symbols or some symbol of hatred, why must people be forced to cover it up in order to obtain or maintain a job?Tattoos have been around for thousands of years.It is believed that women in ancient Egypt received tattoos on their abdomen and upper thighs to serve as an amulet to help protect them during pregnancy and childbirth.Referring to the Scythians and Thracian, the Greek writer, Herodotus wrote that "tattoos were a mark of nobility, and not to have them was testimony of low birth."While unarguably, there are some pretty bad tattoos out there, many of them are quite beautiful with all of their brilliant colors and detail.The Maori tribe of New Zealand boasts some of the most incredible tattoos (known as Ta moko) that I have ever seen.They are quite intricate and are considered sacred among the people.According to New Zealand's official travel website,

www.newzealand.com , "Every moko contains ancestral/tribal messages specific to the wearer.These messages tell the story of the wearer's family and tribal affiliations, and their place in these social structures."Every person's tattoo holds some personal significance to it.It's a way of making a permanent statement about who you are, what you like, who you love or what is important to you.It can depict a memory, an affiliation or a statement of faith.It is not an indication of your capabilities or how well you do your job; unless of course, you are a tattoo artist.So the next time you see a "painted person" judge them by the way they treat you and others, or by how well they perform in their profession.Or better yet, don't judge them at all.And by the way, traveling to the beautiful country of New Zealand is at the top of my bucket list and if I am fortunate enough to ever make it there, you can count on me returning with some beautiful Maori artwork proudly displayed somewhere on my body.Nothing too big, because after all, it does hurt.