I don’t know why I began watching reality shows about people getting tattoos, but I was quickly hooked.

I was struck by how deeply personal and meaningful most of the tattoos were. They represent sobriety, loss, hope, memory. They celebrate relationship, success, triumph, and love. They are a mirror for a person’s sorrows and joys. Some are playful, some are dense, some are lovely, some are jarring — but they all have a story.