I remember once saying this to my friend Alex. After seeing his new Koi and Japanese sleave, I asked whether he regretted it, and said that I changed my mind too much to be able to ever get a tattoo of any sort - that it was too permanent - I've had a lower lip piercing, but like you said, piercings can be taken out. My friend said that it was about letting go of trying to hold on to things, and letting go of the fear of commitment. He wasn't playing abut when he said this - he's always been one to mess about and say stuff he doesn't mean - but the rest of his life tells me this isn't the case now - he loves the work he does, is happily married and just had his second child, and when he said it was about letting go of his fear of commitment, i could see that he really did mean it. I was very impressed with his answer - he'd thought about it too, and come to his own conclusions. That's all you can ask really, and the best i think anyone can offer.