Inspirational Tattoos

What inspires you? On my profile is a tat I got of a phoenix. It's my inspiration every day. Reminds me that while I'm going thru so much, out of total destruction, I can rise again, and be even more beautiful than before. But this jes me. All my tats are my artwork. I drew them, and they are meant to remind and inspire me.

Depends on what you are into. Things that would be inspirational to one person is different then another.

For me things like an old warrior shield across my back with a ring of Nordic design would be awesome, especially with a leather strap going across to connect to the front with an image of a dragon etched in the center of the shield. But that's only inspirational to me because that's where my roots started thus the reason for Nordic design, the shield being that my life is protected, and the dragon for the spirit that is within me. This would complete my tattoo. I have a Valkyrie head with helm and stone eyes on my right shoulder to watch over me right now - I drew it so it means a lot to me.

My sister has a design for her new one that incorporates her favorite animal, flower, and phrase. She currently has a dragon eating it's own tail on her foot, the image is the sign for eternity.

My Dad got barbed wire around his upper arm because it was cool.

All depends on what you like and think about certain designs. Good luck finding inspiration.

You should get a hello kitty tattoo. Then when you hit your target weight, kick everyones *kitten* who made fun of it.

Agreed with other posts- depends on what you are in to, what are your likes? This is a tough one.

I have a small shoe with wings that I got after my 1st marathon.....

i got a tattoo of a cherry blossom tree on my arm. The tree means beauty and represents the cycle of life. Everything blossoms and everything dies.

This to me is inspirational because I know I have the power to lose this weight and makes me think that I'm still beautiful no matter what.

I have one tattoo and the words mean a lot to me it says"my greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising everytime I fall"

This is tiny, so it's hard to see, but it is a kanji for "perseverance"


It was my gift to myself after shedding a ton of weight and getting fit and healthy.

a tattoo of me would be so inspirational.

If you have to ask other people for ideas, I wouldn't do it. I mulled over mine for several years (back piece- Phoenix Wings) and revised the design several times before I settled on the final artwork. Don't get one on a whim. I have a second smaller tat I very much regret...

I creeped your profile. What about symbols or depictions of the meanings of your children's names? Since you list them as your inspiration. :-) For example, my kids' names mean "God is the giver of gifts", and "king". I was thinking of a hand, palm up with a crown laying in the centre. See what I mean? Anyway, just a thought.

Things to not get (just my opinion, to each his/her own):

- Anything you can find on a wall or clip art book at a tattoo shop - having matching tattoos with strangers is not cool
- Kanji symbols (sorry folks)
- Tribal designs
- Barbed wire
- Anything in a language you can't read
- Portraits of your children (these are scary and horrible)
- Anyone's name (except maybe mine)
- Most of the suggestions here, unless it is meaningful to you

My humble 2 cents. I do like your idea of something inspirational, fitness-wise though. My advice would be to get something that vaguely symbolizes it, nothing specific like a scale or tape measure. That way you can pick something that is awesome all on its own and not have to explain your reasoning for it 10 times a day, which will happen.

I totally want some young woman to get a tape measure down her sternum to her belly button so she can chart her boobs dropping as she ages. Too bad you're not a chick.