My Teenage Good Idea Dissapearing

I may appear to be confident and to have no physical insecurities, but do not let my outgoing personality fool you. I have imperfections, parts of my body I would like to change and a crooked tattoo of the letter 'M' located on my mid-right bicep that I am ashamed of. The tattoo was one of my rebellious 'good ideas' I had with two of my girlfriends at the age of 13.

We were going to be 'Best Friends For Life' and we stabbed our first initial from our first names into our arms to prove it. We used a pen, sewing needle, thread an some cheap Indio ink from Spencer’s Gifts to create the tattoos.

At the time, a blood oath just wasn't rebellious enough. I mainly liked the idea that I could appear to be older with a tattoo. I sported my prison looking tattoo with pride the first two years. My bad ass tattoo wasn't cool for very long. By the time I became 17, I realized that this tattoo didn't make me look older; it made me look like a young punk who was raised in the ghetto. I wanted it removed or else covered but I couldn't afford to have it removed and wasn't legally an adult to get a professional tattoo. So I just had to live with it.

Thank fully, I never gave into having a tattoo placed over the 'M'. After 7 years of waiting, I went to the Cosmetic Laser Center and had my first laser tattoo removal procedure. The laser didn't hurt too bad and I can already see the tattoo dissolving into my skin. I feel an immense amount of pride to be able to have this tattoo removed for myself. I have been hiding my arm from the world for too long and I can't wait to not feel ashamed of my body.

So if you have been hiding something about yourself: get it fixed or work on improving that area of your body. We only get one body, one lifetime to live, and should never be ashamed of what we look like. I feel like this is one of the best gifts I can give to myself right now. I will forever have the 'M' scar, but have gained an appreciation for my natural self. Also, it’s a story for my future children about why not to get a tattoo or why it’s important to wait till you can have one done professionally.