GUEST BLOG! Thank you so much, Kathy, for taking to the keyboard while I wrap up a much-needed break. I can only imagine the typos on a piece that I’d written while dealing with jet lag and coming off the Honolulu to Richmond red eye. I promise, I’ll be back in front of the keyboard next week! In the meantime…some thoughts from my cohost on Whine & Wine.
Hello, my name is Kathy and I’m a 50-something Swiftie.
For those unfamiliar with the term “Swiftie,”…wait, how could you be? Taylor Swift is everywhere now, and it is well deserved. While I used to think her target audience was decades younger than me, as I learned more about her, I was drawn into the world of the Swifties.
Why? Well, I’m delighted to tell you.
Top Five Reasons Why I’m a Huge Fan of Taylor Swift:
- Swift is a Humble and Positive Role Model: Watch any of the award shows and you’ll see that Swift is the FIRST to stand up and applaud winners, even for the categories she’s competing within. She is consistent in her messaging on striving for one’s goals and maintaining a strong work ethic. In a world where the decline in positive messaging is everywhere, it is refreshing to see younger generations gifted with someone they can look to whose brand is consistently aimed at the power (and rewards) of hard work while staying humble.
- Swift is Intelligent and has Impressive Business Acumen: Read any of the lyrics from her award-winning albums or listen to any of her interviews and Swift’s intellect is quite clear. She’s structured her career and built an empire in a way that shows that Swift knows how to run a business—from creative aspects to marketing to producing her own videos to re-recording her masters to the way she structures her shows and, of course, the endless “Easter Eggs” she famously puts into her outfits, albums, and appearances.
- Swift Gives Back. Always: It’s been quietly noted that in each city she’s touring in, Swift donates generously to the local charities. She has also changed the lives of the every single employee on her worldwide tour with huge bonuses at the end of each leg. I suspect there will be more bonuses/donations to come, but Swift often aims to do such things quietly–another example of her humility. We are lucky to witness a person of Swift’s stature taking care of those around her and the locations she tours. Of course, not everyone can give back at the same level as Swift, but her example still holds: We all have something we can do to give back.
- Swift Balances Her Life: From knowing when to pull back and when to live our best lives, Swift offers a message we all should strive to match. Shouldn’t we all feel free to take an unapologetic break when needed? There are times in our lives when we simply need to withdraw and reset but we often feel that we can’t. Swift shows the importance of this through her example, giving us all permission to follow suit. Those times when we do pull inward often lead to some amazing, unexpected things. If you can’t relate to that need for a periodic rest then, honestly, you should feel #blessed.
- Swift Stands Up For What’s Right: Watching Swift navigate a harassment case, fight for the rights to hundreds of her original recordings, and be a voice for incorrect perceptions of women in the world gives us hope. It shows her more “seasoned” Swifties just how amazing today’s young women can and will be. They are not afraid to fight back, stand up, and own what is theirs. I really do believe that, with Swift’s lead, post-Gen-X’ers are going to change the world. Seriously. Just watch.
For those who still can’t get behind the positivity that Swift offers? Check yourselves. Why is it so important for you to continue disparaging an amazing, successful, and humble woman? Dig in for some soul-searching and figure out why one woman’s success causes you to bow up. And before you verbalize another unkind word, remember that your sisters, daughters, mothers, aunties, and fellow humans are all watching and listening to you.
My skeletons are in their Taylor Swift Era.