Fala

at the risk of a little TMI
my most recent tattoo has to do with a degenerative retina disease that was recently diagnosed to me

I like the idea of imagery...but I also don't mind script. With script I'd say keep it simple. You could get an image that resonates with you with something like the word "trust" under it...as in, trust yourself, rather than the OCD thoughts... I almost said No Doubt, but that can't be used for obvious reasons haha. Since OCD is a struggle, two fighting animals could pertain... a knife through something (slaying OCD)... or maybe just a peaceful image of how you would feel having overcome it, like a flower. Any image that strikes a chord with you. You would know what it meant. If you get writing (or an image for that matter), like @marley mission mentioned, don't design it yourself, go to an artist who is amazing at what you want.

As for imagery that would be personal to you I don't think I could help you there
That part has gotta come from you I think
As for the script alone - plenty of people like script tattoos
So for me it's just my personal taste that I wouldn't want that standing alone
Now - if you do just go for the script
Make sure you find someone that does it well
And let them do the lettering design
And depending on the location of the tattoo you should listen to the artists advice on size
Don't be the guy with a little script tattoo floating in the middle of the forearm
Because then you've just killed some prime real estate should you want additional tattoos in the area

I'll be direct here
Doubting yourself on this design is a good thing
Especially if you had ideas to use that exact script in the tattoo
On the positive - the idea of a getting a tattoo that symbolizes your struggle with OCD sounds like a cool one - but I think you should go with some imagery rather than text
And this next part is quite important - find a good artist
You've done the right thing coming here to ask some questions
Tattoos can be fun and impulsive things and work out just fine
But most of the time - it's better to slow it down and do some thinking and researching
It seems this is a case where you did have some doubt and it helped prevent you from making a bad decision - just my two cents - keep us updated

I probably won't be any help because I know nothing about Japanese tattoos...but in my opinion, any tattoo can be "feminine" without being overtly feminine. Just the fact that it's on a woman makes it feminine, too often people get caught up in "only certain colors are for girls, this design is too masculine, etc" but really tattoos are for both genders so there's nothing off limits. I assume your artist is pretty knowledgeable about the "rules" so you can ask him/her and choose to follow them or break them as you see fit (nowadays a lot of people don't strictly adhere to them as much).

That's weird..

haven't been on here in a while. I enjoyed seeing all the great work everyone has gotten recently!
Had an appt with Chad Koeplinger on 11/14. I thought I was in for one more painful, albeit short, back appt for some touch ups in case he felt they were needed. After taking a look at my healed back, he said some very wonderful words "rob, I think we are done". I emphatically replied back, "thank GOD!"
So, I had him do some filler on my wrist. He tattooed a flail and a fly and I am absolutely loving them both. I really enjoyed getting these, but I will admit, the ball of the flail, on the inside of my wrist was a bit more painful than I would have thought. Felt like it was sending electric shocks into my hand! Still, easier than the back for sure!
Included a pic of my healed back, and a photo off of Chad's instagram of myself and a seemingly GIANT Andrew Stortz . Andrew's back piece is insanely good.

I agree with this.

Leave it alone, it looks great as is. Efforts to "enhance" tattoos in the way you are describing usually end up taking away from the original tattoo subject. An eagle is already pretty "U S of EH" do you really need to make your patriotism more obvious by dressing your arm like an american flag?
Get other tattoos and fill out the rest of the arm. Or incorporate the eagle into a wrap-around wilderness half sleeve with a colourful background.
My $0.02

Sounds great @Cork!

I also don't have set date yet, but I'm in with Johan Svahn for his guest trip to NYC in April. I am beyond excited.
Would love to get dinner/drinks with you NYC folks whoever you all are. @ironchef @BrianH

I have not been able to post in the upcoming tattoo thread in a while. But thankfully in a couple weeks my dude Dave Regan will be adding onto my arm. I'm super pumped.

I just booked an appointment for the spring with Grez at King's Ave in NYC to start a Rock of Ages lower leg piece. Can't wait, he's been one of my favorite artists for some time.

My local artist, Keith Reed, is putting a moth on my left thigh next week to (sort of) pair with the one Oliver Peck put on my right thigh over the summer. We haven't mapped out specifics yet, but it will be based off of some Spider Murphy's flash.
In February I'm planning a trip to LA to visit a friend, and we're looking at some matching "bro tats" while I'm out there. It may end up being a walk in job, but also going to potentially call around to a few shops in advance.

Booked in a quick tattoo with Ross Nagle... Long overdue, and great to be back to AllStar again.
Jesus-themed tattoos seem to be to Ross what spiders are to Matt Ariola and penises are to Dan Sinnes... I probably will succumb.

I'm booked for the end of the month to polish out my backpiece and cap my wrist with a good luck dragon before the end of the year.
Hooray. Great timing actually - I can focus on work, enjoy Xmas with my family, slam dance and stage dive with my bros on Boxing Day, hit the waterpark on my week off work and then blam spend a holi-day in Steve's secret battcave. Wash the tattoo the next morning and get drunk on New Year's Eve. boosh

OP
you're anxious about this tattoo which is normal - especially since its your first
but...
you're asking the wrong questions
the money is simple
either you have it or you dont
but the real focus should be have I done research on my chosen artist
what I have seen in the portfolio (IG, in person, etc) that tells me 'this is gonna go well'
thats the vibe i need to have when i set up a tattoo appointment
there are plenty of good artists to choose from
especially in the area you are heading to
and with current technologies there's no excuse for failing check out your artist's recent work
anyway - who you getting work from?

Today's work was intense, and we still have a bit left to go!
Yoni Zilber at NY Adorned.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-Cj6--MGq7/?taken-by=yonizilber

Today's work was intense, and we still have a bit left to go!
Yoni Zilber at NY Adorned.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-Cj6--MGq7/?taken-by=yonizilber

Somewhere between 5 or 6 hours of outlining today with Sam Warren. He ended up going just the tiniest bit bigger than I thought he would, but I am so stoked to get this started. Oh, and this goes into the dreaded butt crease, which had me seeing stars.

Here's one that's all ready healed, hairy, a bit dry and shiny:

Chad Koeplinger made this at the Stockholm Inkbash in august this year. I wanted a meditating figure but not in buddhist or hindu style and send him a bunch of different ideas of present and historical cultures/religions to get him started. I was very happy when I arrived for the appointment and he decided to not draw one of my suggestions, and instead made this hopi indian in a thunderstorm. Also this is the first tattoo with tattoos that I have my body, and the first swastika. Happy about that

Today's work was intense, and we still have a bit left to go!
Yoni Zilber at NY Adorned.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-Cj6--MGq7/?taken-by=yonizilber

I believe so!

So good! Miss you guys!

Today's work was intense, and we still have a bit left to go!
Yoni Zilber at NY Adorned.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-Cj6--MGq7/?taken-by=yonizilber