Tattoo artists know the deal. Their most extreme clients choose to stand out from the crowd. Those clients have their reasons, and that’s good enough.

What makes you any better?

Short answer: You’re not.

As for me, I have no tattooes. Marking my body is not my thing. Neither are piercings or other forms of self-mutilation. If you see a bias in that statement, it would be difficult for me to claim otherwise, though I do find such tribalism fascinating.

But consider this author’s predilections: I write a minimum of 5000 words daily, seven days a week. Throughout the process, I‘ll talk to myself (sometimes to test my dialogue, sometimes to fret aloud about upcoming bills), ponder random thoughts that enter my head out of nowhere, anticipate with a smile the next time I’ll have sex or a good meal ... or both, keep the TV blaring in the background while listening to loud music with buds in my ears, and sometimes even put the pants on if working from my home office.

Sometimes the underwear too. (C’mon, I can’t be the only one.)

I‘m 54, an early-riser, and couldn’t care less about propriety while my wife sleeps. I care even less about the Super Bowl or World Series. I watch professional wrestling, neither drink nor do drugs, and am addicted to Star Wars.

What makes me any better than you?

Short answer: I’m not.

We all got it going on.