Does this make me a Swiftie?

Let’s begin with this:  I’m not a Swiftie.  At least, I don’t think I am.  I remember listening to Taylor Swift on the radio—yes, actual radio. Long before Apple Music and Spotify knew our playlists better than we do. Back when you had to wait for a song to come on, not just tap a screen. Her first songs were catchy and sweet, but Love Story? That one stuck with me. It still does. It’s the one I associate most with her.  What’s hard for me to wrap my head around is this: I didn’t “grow up” with Taylor Swift. Her first album came out after I was married—and that fact surprises me every time. It feels like I must have been in college when she got started. But no, I was already a mom. I had a baby. I was in a completely different phase of life.  Many albums followed, and I can’t say I ever bought one or even listened to a full album start to finish. I liked her music when it came on, sure—but I didn’t follow her career. Life was busy, my focus was elsewhere, and frankly, I didn’t have the time or space for much else.  But that’s changed.

Now, I’m in a season of life where I finally have space. Real breathing room. Space to rediscover who I am, what I like, and yes, where I’ve been wasting time.  Looking back on the years of raising kids—through all the joy, the exhaustion, the balancing acts—I realize how many things I missed out on simply because I was trying to stay afloat. I wouldn’t change it for even a minute. But it is eye-opening to be here now, in this quieter season, reflecting and discovering.  And in that space, something unexpected happened: I found myself paying attention to Taylor Swift.

When the whole Taylor and Travis thing started making headlines, I was neutral. Mild curiosity, nothing more. But then the backlash came. The hate. The noise. And I noticed myself leaning in—not to the drama, but to the story.  I’m an avid football fan. Always have been. Football has always been special to me—something I shared with my dad. I remember coming home from college on weekends, and there was an unspoken rule: if there was a noon game, I stayed and watched it with him and my mom.  If it was a later kickoff, I could head back early and catch it at school. Sundays from September to February were sacred. They still are. Whether my team is playing or not, there’s usually a game on in our house. Football is a comfort, a connection, a rhythm.  So at first, I’ll admit—Taylor showing up at NFL games felt like a distraction. A spectacle. But as time went on, I started to believe there was more to it. This wasn’t a media stunt. It wasn’t a PR move. It was something real.  It was becoming that Love Story she sang about all those years ago.

And then the New Heights podcast episode aired.  I was glued to my seat. Watching Travis and Jason Kelce talk about it all—and eventually hearing from Taylor herself—it hit differently. This wasn’t career-building. This wasn’t strategy. This was something special between two people who genuinely like each other.  If Taylor Swift is faking her interviews, then she’s one of the greatest actresses alive. But I don’t believe that. She doesn’t need to fake anything. She’s built a platform by being herself—and she has nothing left to prove. She’s made her money. She’s earned her place. And still, she shows up with joy, honesty, and vulnerability. Because she loves what she does.  And because of all of that, I did something I’ve never done before:  I listened to a Taylor Swift album from beginning to end.  I’m probably on my fourth or fifth full listen now.  I have raised an eyebrow a couple of times. Not every lyric is my story, but that’s not the point. The album paints a picture of a complicated, imperfect life—and the courage it takes to live it out loud. It’s raw. It’s vulnerable. And it’s hers.

In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, Taylor said something that struck me:  “Part of my job as an entertainer is to be a mirror for people. You look into the art we make. You see yourself back. The way you feel about our art has a lot to do with the life experience you’re having at this point in time.”  I’ve never related to something more and I am glad I pressed play.

So here’s where I have landed:

Let Taylor Swift do what she loves.

Let her be in love.

Let her be.

If you don’t like it? That’s okay. There are a lot of things in this world I don’t like either. But I don’t make it my life’s mission to complain about them.  I still don’t know if I’m a Swiftie, maybe I’m just someone who has the time and space to appreciate good storytelling, honest emotions, and real connection.  And honestly, that’s enough for me.