For this next ThankSday, I ThinkS I need to honor a person who, IMHO, is a SainT of modern pop – TSwift, Taylor Swift. Thank you for all that you do, and thanks for being (mostly) unapologetically you. I used to feel weird about identifying as one for far too long, but, at the end of the day, I suppose you could say that I am indeed a SwifTie. Changing my view to ignore common conceptions and public perceptions, I am ME!
Now, to digress briefly, I choose to clarify that I love most, if not all, music out there. My opinion of best artists may be different than yours. We should have favorites, but we should also keep an open mind to hear more than what we already know. Essentially, I am sugjesting a choice to consider change. Your favorites can and probably should change over time. We all go through different phases and stages of life. Your favorites will not always change, but they certainly can and probably should in some cases. If that idea is upsetting to you at all, then maybe you should reflect on that some. Why are you choosing to be inflexible and stagnant? Might I already sugjest You Need to Calm Down?
As a Swiftie, I have been listening to her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, a lot as of late. It is a sadder album than I probably need in my life right now as I deal with more changes than I necessarily desire, but it does help me sit with my feelings more. In addition, it helps me reflect and ruminate more. It reminds me that I, too, am not alone. My experiences are similar to what others endure. I will not say that they are the same because they are not; we each live individual and unique lives, yet we can track trends and share similarities1. In doing so, we can advance better together, and we can change our outlook and grow through any and all shared experiences… if we choose to do so.
Today is never too late to be brand-new.
You can still be Innocent.
It takes work, but it is worth it… <3
Personally, I listen to SiriusXM a lot. For this past month or so, Channel 13 has been exclusively dedicated to Taylor Swift. What stands out to me is the different audio clips between songs – there are insights from the legend herself as well as neat stories and confessions of admiration from some of the adoring Swifties. I really appreciated how people acknowledged Taylor’s change and growth throughout her career. She is not the same woman that she once was. I think that is one of the best points of life. Why would you want to always be the same person? We can continually learn and grow as the world around us continues to do so. We have opportunities to reinvent and improve ourselves over time with incremental iterations of what is ideal or important for our most idyllic life.
Thank you again, Taylor Swift. I applaud and appreciate your willingness to be as authentic and real with us as possible. I imagine that it is not easy being the monster on the hill. I think you are doing a great job at showing many people how to feel more empowered and encouraged to enjoy experiences. You have educated me a lot.
Long Live well-lived and better-loved Legacies <3
Maybe it’s wise. Maybe it’s dumb. Time will tell. :)
- I love the idea of tinkering this into shimmerlarities :) ↩︎