I never considered enjoying the pain as a motivation to get a tattoo. I got a couple of piercings and did NOT enjoy the process AT ALL, so as it's not the pain that draws me to the tattoo but just the desire to have a tattoo and use my body as a canvas to express myself, then I guess it would be okay. Good advice, though, on making sure I don't do it when I'm really down. I'm turning 30 at the end of the year, and I plan on getting my first tattoo for my birthday...something that is actually a reminder of healing and to love myself whenever I look at it. So I think it's a good thing.

Thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate it.