After reading my post I realized that I left something important out! The reason I ultimately changed my mind about removing my tattoo is that I was able to see how it would look like with color (after coloring it in with markers) and I (bold the "I") actually liked it. Before that I thought it looked like a big black blob and I didn't like it. Much of my anxiety around the tattoo after I decided I liked it had to do with being afraid of judgment from others. Once I realized that I loved the tattoo and that I was letting how other people MIGHT react to it sway my feelings, I went to a counselor to talk. That's when I realized that my fears were being amplified by others and that when I was really true to myself I would keep it. I would not suggest to anyone who truly hates their tattoo to keep it. I just wanted to give hope to people that may actually like theirs that a change of heart can happen. I didn't settle, I really do love my tattoo now. Also, going to a counselor made me realize that a lot of my fears about my tattoo were being amplified out of proportion because of all the anxiety I was having. Once I started thinking clearly it helped me a lot. If you were stranded on an island alone, would you still hate your tattoo or could you possible like it? For me, I would like it and that's what ultimately matters to me. I have attached some pictures to this post so that everyone can see my tattoo. The first one is of my unfinished tattoo a couple of days after I got it. It had no color, just shading. The second one is of the hummingbird that I decided to get colored first. I like it more now that it has color then before. I will post pictures as I add more color. I'm taking it really slow and my tattoo artist understands that I freaked out at first so he is cool with letting me feel things out. I am going to get light pastel colors for the rest of the tattoo watercolor style because I've been told these colors lighten up a tattoo. I'm thinking sunset colors for the roses (light sunset). Anyways, hope this helps someone!