Throughout our lives, there are people, places, events, or even pets that really leave a special impression on us. While we can all relate to that, there are others who also need to externalize this feeling in some way. And the best way to do that is with a tattoo that can represent that special milestone in their lives and keep that moment alive on their body and in their memory forever.
At Bright Side, we love that our readers share their tattoos and the stories behind each of them with us. So we’ve selected some of the ones that we liked, that moved us, or surprised us the most, and we made a compilation to show them to you.
1. “I got a green ribbon (a symbol of organ donation) tattooed on the scar I had left after donating a kidney to my cousin.”
© Ana-Martha Mora Ruano / Facebook
2. “My dad always told us legends about hummingbirds. When he was no longer with us, hummingbirds appeared everywhere, even in the cemetery — they were there!!!”
© Laura Gofstein / Facebook
“It was as if he was telling us that he was fine, that we should not suffer, and that he would always be with us. So I decided to get a hummingbird and my favorite flower tattooed in his memory, and it’s like every morning he comes to greet me!!!! I miss you, Daddy.”
3. “This tattoo represents my parents. They have been married for almost 50 years and are sweethearts, spouses, friends, and confidants. My example to follow, they love each other to this day.”
© Suki Palta Rodriguez / Facebook
4. “I tattooed a guitar in honor of my father who loved music — even on his tombstone, we engraved the image of his guitar.”
© Flowercilla Ramos Prieto / Facebook
“And it’s not self-flagellation, because the truth is that it didn’t even hurt to get one, but just seeing this mark on my skin reminds me of the joy my father had while playing his guitar and it helps me to keep going even though he’s not with me anymore, because life is to be enjoyed, and nothing is more beautiful than music to make it better.”
5. “Mine is of my dog who passed away in August 2019. 14 years she accompanied me, since her 43 days of life, my faithful companion. I now have her 7-year-old granddaughter and her 2 great-grandchildren, ages 5 and 4.”
© Eu Ge Nia / Facebook
6. “My son’s initial and a puzzle piece, he has autism💙.”
© Karla Lopez Sabat / Facebook
7. “I have 5 hummingbirds for my sisters and me because our parents taught us to fly and be free. And on my back, I have the tree of life for my 2 daughters who are everything to me.”
© Mariela Verga / Facebook
8. “A tribute to my grandfather who took it upon himself to help my mother raise my sisters and me when my father abandoned us. He planted coffee that he sold to add to his pension and be able to provide for us anything we needed.”
© Esteban Rojas Cano / Facebook
9. “2 years ago, I went through a difficult situation: my partner and I had broken up, I lost my job, and my dad was diagnosed with the onset of mental illness, all in the same week. This tattoo is a reminder to myself that I can flourish even in the face of adversity.”
© Leonela Peña Reyes / Facebook
10. “I have the WhatsApp chicken head on my wrist… I’m learning how to tattoo and did it myself, so that’s why it has mistakes that I improved on in the next tattoo I did.”
© Valentina Chaparro / Facebook
11. “The names of my children”
© Lupita Villa / Facebook
12. “My mom and I got tattooed together. She said it hurt so much that this would be the only one she’d ever get and ended up saying, ’One can do anything out of love for one’s children.’”
© Neidy Guevara / Facebook
13. “My only tattoo, which represents my 4 loves: my children. The tattoo was handmade by my daughter…”
© Aleine Gomez / Facebook
14. “A mark of a real kiss from my grandmother — I had it made with my sister.”
© Coral Gómez Gómez / Facebook
“Grandma would always give us a kiss every time she could, but gradually her dementia and Alzheimer’s made her less affectionate. She hardly ever gives kisses anymore, but my sister and I will carry one with us forever.”
15. “My 3 children, represented by We Bare Bears, a cartoon that we used to watch together.”
© Celeste Condinanzo / Facebook
16. “In honor of my family: 3 birds of different sizes because we are 3 children. I’m the middle one, so the medium bird carries my father’s last name. And the origami birds because my mother knows how to make them perfectly.”
© Anailed Gómez De López / Facebook
17. “In memory of my 4 babies that I had in my womb but never in my arms”
© Violetta Hernandez Gonzalez / Facebook
18. “I am 43 years old and was very scared but still had just one of these done with my son since we always play the Bubble Bobble game. It was worth the pain, they are beautiful.”
© Clara Hernandez Velazquez / Facebook
19. “I have one on my forearm in honor of my daughter.”
© Kärën Chävëz / Facebook
20. “My baby — he was like a son to me and I have never met anyone nicer or more obedient than him.”
© Cesar Marti Senise / Facebook
21. “I have my grandmother’s palm print on my left arm, very close to the heart. It’s her real print and has her name on it. She is still alive, but I made it in honor of her. I adore her.”
© Ivon Walker / Facebook
22. “This is a drawing that my sister made 3 years before she left us, and it’s been 13 years since that happened.”
© Jesica Manrriquez / Facebook
“Last year, on the day of her twelfth death anniversary, I drew it as a tribute to her memory. That little monkey that she drew stayed in my memory forever, I was very young when it happened. I feel very comforted since I carry a part of her with me…”
23. “A tattoo with my best friends: my brothers and sisters”
© Maria Estela Alcaraz / Facebook
24. “In memory of the first kitten I loved with all my soul — 2 years ago, he went missing…”
© Angelica Hernandez / Facebook
25. “Well, I have a tattoo, which is a phoenix, with the names of my mom and my brother written in Arabic on its tail… I got it tattooed because I got out of a toxic relationship of 5 years with the support of both of them.”
© Elizabeth Vega / Facebook
26. “The meaning it has for me is my family (my husband, myself, my daughter, and my son), cared for by the universe and united by it.”
© Estrella Ceron / Facebook
27. My brothers and I got this quote tattooed when we found out my mom had cancer. My mom’s name is Alice and my sister loves Alice in Wonderland. Thank God my mom is doing well today.”
© Gise Romero / Facebook
“It’s only a dream…”
Alicia
28. “They are my children, the middle one is no longer with us.”
© Susy Sandoval / Facebook
29. “My kids and I are on the left hand, and my mom and dad are on the right. They flew off together 6 years ago…”
© Medina MP / Facebook
Do you have a tattoo or would you like to get one? What do you think of the reasons that led these people to get theirs? Don’t be shy — share your tattoos and the meaning behind them with us!