This buzzfeed article popped on my feed on threads this morning, and I’ve had some shower thoughts™ about it. Also, I should tell you before we continue that I am a swiftie (I identify as an Oasis fan first and foremost, but I also like Taylor’s music) and I love the new album. It was specifically written for me, I love how it sounds. I am not a music critic and will offer nothing past this paragraph on Swift’s music, but I did want to talk about the bullying stuff, so stick around if you want a mini memoir.
Okay, I here are the two thoughts I wanted to share.
“Kim is over it and wants Taylor to move on.” I can’t speak for Taylor, but I will for myself. I was bullied all throughout middle and high school. At this point, this all happened over 20+ years ago. Am I over it? Yes, but also not really. I have moved on, I am a much happier person now, but I also some of the hang ups I still have come from having been bullied as a kid. I still have a really hard time making friends, I still doubt my worth as a friend some days, I am constantly amazed some wonderful people actually want to hang out with me. I am insecure in my friendships in a way I was never in my romantic relationships. But also, I did move on. I don’t wake up depressed every day, I don’t hate life. I'm very happy and I love the little group of wonderful people I’ve met since college (and even a couple of friends from the dark times I still count as friends!). So I have built something too. I didn’t build a billion-dollar career, but if you listen to the album, I think maybe there’s a little chance that some days, Taylor would probably prefer the life I have now than the one she built (see track “The Prophecy” in the “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology”). So Idk, Kim, maybe it’s easier for YOU to move on since you were the bully and you are the one being vilified by media now, but also, let Taylor workout her stuff through music. Being bullied really freaking hurts.
Most of the girls that bullied me in Middle and High School looked like what Taylor Swift looked like at that age. And in a way, I find that weirdly ironic.
And that’s all I had to say!
(When I don’t post about books I feel a bit weird, is this type of thing okay…? I mean, it’s okay if you skip those, I’ll mostly still probably be more comfortable talking about books anyway, but I don’t use twitter anymore, and Instagram is not really the medium for rambling thoughts and i will not show my face on tiktok… so)
I’m so sorry you were bullied. And yes, as soon as I saw that quote I thought the bully doesn’t get to decide when it’s time to move on!
Good point. I never thought of it that way: bullied vs bully. I would read your thoughts on anything. I’m glad/grateful were friend, October sisters, cat lovers. I’m picking up The Familiar today at the library!