I've been questioned a lot recently about my tattoo on my under-forearm.
I feel compelled to write about it for the sake of future reference and answering those generic questions like "So what's it mean?" and "Why'd you get it?".
It clearly has enough meaning to me for me to scar my skin for the rest of my life with such a symbol and its not something I can easily explain in the 30 seconds of your curiosity.
For those of you that don't know (which is all of you), I have a medium sized leaf on my right forearm. This leaf is known as "The Album Leaf". The Album Leaf is the symbol of a artist who, you guessed it, is named the Album Leaf in the music world. This artist creates beautiful, ambient (mostly instrumental) songs of inspiration that have truly reached deep within me and hit "a soft spot". He's a multi-instrumentalist of indie fame, not to mention one of the most innovative music artists to produce music since Radiohead. His creativity is a source of inspiration and optimism for my life/philosophies/writing/music production/lifestyle. Whenever I gaze downward at my arm I'm always reminded to stay creative, fresh.
This is only one of the multiple meanings this tattoo of mine beholds.
Another meaning I've derived from the leaf is change. Change is something I'm all too familiar with in my life, as is the same with a leaf's life cycle through the seasons. I've changed numerous times in my young life to become the satisfied man I am today. All the changes I've made were for the better and they remain inside me, never to be forgotten. This is similar to a leaf as it changes colors and eventually dies for the better recovery of the tree. Its significant for me not to forgot my old flaws and remember to always change for the better...another reminder supported by my tattoo.
The final major meaning behind my tattoo is my love of nature. Nature has been taken for granted too much by too many people, and I was once guilty of this. Through the beauty of Colorado, I've reunited with nature and my love for its al fresco beauty. I view nature as life in its true form; nature IS life for me. Without nature, there would be no cities, industries, or Earth. The planet would be desolate and dull, and so I have my tattoo to remind to be thankful for such constant surroundings of beauty and life.
As you can see, this tattoo means a lot to me. I love it dearly and have no regrets for getting it. If you are ever thinking about getting some ink done, I ask that you only get it because it means something to you...something you feel necessary to share with the world by displaying it on your body. Don't just get one because everybody else has one and "it's the cool thing to do", do it for yourself.
Inspiration is a requirement in this bland, pessimistic world of ours. My tattoo helps me fulfill that requirement.

PS- Its also a known fact that anybody with a Album Leaf tattoo gets into all his concerts for free, which is a nice bonus.

(I put less saturation effect on the second pic, more saturation on the first)