Every tattoo artist has a version of this story. The client walks in with total certainty, zero flexibility, and a reference image that belongs on a bumper sticker. What happens next is a masterclass in the difference between knowing what you want and knowing what you’re asking for.

I got my first tattoo at 52 and made every mistake in slow motion. Here’s what I’d tell myself if I could go back to that parlor chair.

Most people think about their next tattoo. I’ve started thinking about the whole wall — and that shift changes everything about how you choose what goes on your skin permanently.