ending the entire album with “the story isn’t mine anymore” couldn’t be more perfect.
she has put her entire heart on the line with this. begged us to see her as human. revealed the most tortured and messy and hollow parts of her soul. the good and the bad and certainly the ugly. her mistakes, her high highs, and all the times she legitimately went insane. the story isn’t hers anymore now, it belongs to the world. we do what we will with it. she put the entire depths of her heartbreak out for us to hold, and i hope we hold it softly.
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She was a Swiftie. She found out who TAYLOR SWIFT was in 2006.
She was a Swiftie. Taylor taught her to live and love like she was FEARLESS.
She was a Swiftie. Taylor taught her to SPEAK NOW if she didn’t agree with something.
She was a Swiftie. Taylor taught her that when you see RED it can mean more than just love or anger.
She was a Swiftie. Taylor taught her to just Shake It Off like it’s 1989 when the girls at school are mean to her.
She was a Swiftie. Taylor taught her that her REPUTATION doesn’t matter to those who really care.
She was a Swiftie. Taylor taught her that a LOVER doesn’t always have to be romantic love, that it can be friends, family or yourself.
She was a Swiftie. Taylor taught her that when the world feels like too much, you can escape into FOLKLORE.
She was a Swiftie. Taylor taught her that love can be EVERMORE.
She was a Swiftie. Taylor taught her that she didn’t have to spend her MIDNIGHTS alone. That other people were kept awake at night by things they had done or said.
She is still a Swiftie. She can’t wait to find out what Taylor will teach her as chairman of THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT.
so thank you @taylorswift. thank you for the almost 18 years of life lessons and thank you for still being part of my life. proud to call myself a Swiftie - forever and always <3
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Hi @taylorswift,
I don’t really know why I feel such a need to write to you, but I’m gonna do it because then maybe I’ll be able to get on with the other shit I need to do today (honestly thank goodness for writing when it comes to needing to just empty your thoughts into something so you can get the hell on with just life!)
Anyway, I’m not going to say that I’ve been a long time fan - the truth is, I really haven’t. In fact when I was growing up I found myself in an ‘emo kid’ phase, and I never really grew out of that, but looking back now as a 31 year old, isn’t it mad that people judge the music you listen to because of how you dress? Or the make up you wear? Or the way you style your hair? Growing up, I’m pretty sure I actively didn’t listen to your music to keep up an image that was expected of me because I wore black and had lip piercings. Life is wild. I feel like you’re doing your bit to break the walls between genres down. I think that’s all music is for everyone, and people shouldn’t be judge for what they love, so on behalf of younger kids that are finding their way, their style, thank you.
That’s the first of many thank yous I have for you and your music in recent months actually…
I’ve always struggled with my mental health, from health anxiety, eating disorders, gender dysphoria, ocd, ptsd, dissociation…therapy helps but occasionally, things will pile up so much that I find myself needing something so completely removed from who I believe I am to just feel some kind of relief from everything. This happened not too long ago, and the I found the relief I needed in your music. It took me to somewhere so completely new and unfamiliar, it was like my mind was taking a vacation to an unknown and unexplored world and my god did it need it, to just not be in reality for a little while. Thank you for providing me with my means of escape.
I didn’t expect, though, to come face to face with so many of my experiences that had been so unapproachable in me.
I didn’t expect to cry for the first time about the passing of one of my Nans when I first heard Marjorie. Along with my mum, I was a carer for my Nan while she was living with dementia. She lived with us, and she died with us in our family home, but what hurt most was losing her so many months before she died. She was the bravest, most incredible, feisty, funny and full of life person I’ve ever known, and seeing that person fade away in front of my eyes was heartbreaking, but instead of grieving I locked it away, I had to look after my mum. I think about my Nan every day now, she is alive in my head, thank you for bringing her back to me.
I didn’t expect to scream into my pillow after hearing Death By A Thousand Cuts because it took me to a past relationship that was so mentally, physically and sexually abusive that I almost didn’t make it out, to a court case that I lost, and to a part of me that the closest people in my life now don’t know about because it’s been stored so deeply within me that some days I could almost get by without it affecting me in some way. It came right to the front of my mind, and I was able to go to my therapist who helped me to safely resolve things in a way that allows me to be live with it as part of my story without it ruling over my life. Thank you for being the catalyst that I needed to push through that trauma.
I didn’t expect to come out of the Eras Tour Film the week that the UK government announced its anti-trans policies and plans feeling powerful in my skin as a trans non-binary person. I was inspired by your commitment to diversity and inclusion within your performers, and at a time when I felt scared and unable to safely be myself, seeing lgbt representation on your stage reminded me that I am strong and I am human and I deserve to be here and respected in whatever form I choose. That week, I launched an lgbt social platform that is providing a safe space for the community to be who they are without question. Thank you for giving me the strength to make a difference.
I didn’t expect to hear Soon You’ll Get Better and think about my Auntie and other Nan who were both fighting cancer at the same time and died within 6 months of each other, my Auntie first and then my Nan. At the time this happened, I was trying to get through my last year uni, I was by myself without my family around me, and I had to shut the locked the grief so that I could focus on pushing forward. I passed uni but I failed to keep the grief out, I became so terrified of losing loved ones that I shut everyone out, and as a result I ended up losing the part of myself that new how to love those around them, and be loved in return. Even in my relationship I struggled until recent months to truly let myself just be present within it. This song helped me to process what happened in a safe way and bring them parts of me out again. Not long after, I proposed to be partner, she said yes, we’re all in, both of us together, thank you for renewing my ability to love, and be loved.
Today I on the second of 2 charity challenge days, during which I’m rebuilding the website for a charity called Swings and Smile, who work to improve the quality of life for disabled children and their families. As a marketer and web developer, I try to help out where I can with small businesses and non-profit organisations. Swings and Smiles have looked after my partners sister, Katie, for many years. Katie is an incredible kid with various additional needs, and she gets so much joy being at the centre. It’s been a pleasure so far working on a new website for them that will (hopefully!) increase their exposure and support levels, but sitting down for 16 hours each day for two days to get the site done is difficult. Your music has been on repeat in the background the whole time, and it’s kept me focused on this project that means so much to so many. Thank you keeping me company and keeping me working hard for those that need me to be.
So much has happed over the past few months for me, and it’s mad to think that it could all be down to one person who is an actual stranger and their music. And yet here I am completely in awe of the effect the right words can have when they’re heard at the right time. I don’t really know if there is a right time to deal with stuff like this, but your words helped to make the the last few months the right time for me. Little by little that locked chest opened to reveal so many dark rooms within me that had been gathering dust. Now, they’re starting to come to life with light, even if right now it’s a little dim, it’s a step in the right direction.
Thank you for putting your experiences out there for those of us that need something to relate too. Thank you for working relentlessly despite the difficulties you’ve faced because you’re making people like me work harder towards things that matter. Thank you for sticking around in the music industry for long enough that this 31 year old could find your music after passing it up for so many years.
I hope you are safe and well. I hope your fur babies are doing well, my 3 cats, Cody (grey), Dexter (black), and Sprite (ginger) are all asleep in their favourite spots right now, none of which are any of the many beds we’ve bought them!
I have tickets to one of your London shows next year, I’m so excited to see you! And, while I’d love to hear back from you just to know that you know that I am 5ever grateful for what you’ve done for me in such a short time, at least I know for sure I’ll be able to get on with the rest of my stuff now I’ve written this all down!
Robyn x
@taylornation
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