See, here's the thing. I'm not a pain junkie, no way, no how. But I do believe in a certain idea of the "rite of passage," something I think is sadly lacking from modern culture (not getting into that right now, though). I get these tattoos, and they hurt like muthafuckas, and I wonder how the Hell I'm gonna get through it. Seriously, the pain is hellacious. However, I know that once it's done, the pain will stop. And I know, when the pain is finally gone, I'll have something to show for it, as well as the mental lock that says "I did that, I handled that pain, and came through it." Like a scar, the ink left behind is my reminder of what I endured, and I can always look back and know that I am that much stronger for it.
Just my way of dealing. Hey, some people juggle geese.