#don't think psych has a chance if it's not on US netflix but let's show it some love anyway!

[jamesrodayrodriguezpresents]

ICYMI!

[britneecatlett]

An Open Letter To: Taylor Swift

Let's talk about it. Listed among Time's most influential people, the world has become transfixed by this powerhouse. I recently watched her Reputation tour on Netflix and am more in awe of her talents than ever. 

Now, I can't remember the first time I heard her music, nor have I been to every concert. What is more important, though, is how her music creates a connection, the things we learn from the people we admire, and how we use those same people as inspiration for living our best lives.

The lyrics that she so carefully crafts dance around my heart and have woven their way into my soul.

There are an infinite number of reasons that account for her loyal and incredibly large fan base, but I would like to reflect on the eight things I have inadvertently learned from this incredible woman.  

Be unabashedly yourself. In a world where women must live within narrow and rigid systems society so carefully creates, we see a sensation. Nothing bucks the status quo more than a woman comfortable in her own skin. This is what Taylor Swift has come to embody. With the release of Reputation, she is showing the world that she no longer participates in things that do her harm. She is reclaiming her power in the most straightforward and profound way and I can't help but admire her all the more for it.

Not wanting to be in a relationship is enough of a reason to not be in it, especially if that relationship is toxic. Now, this may be common sense, but there is something so freeing about it; like exhaling a breath you didn't even know you were holding. No one person has to create an excuse to leave a partner or exit a relationship they no longer want to be part of.

On the subject of relationships: surrounding yourself with a powerhouse tribe is key, but maintain your boundaries in the process. Giving people a second chance is a great path to explore, but sometimes we find those people we extended our hand to will hurt us again. If that is the case, cut them out. There should be no excuses made for people who continue to hurt, manipulate and take advantage of you. "And so I took an axe to a mended fence." It is ingrained within a women's psyche that we owe anyone who shows us the least bit of kindness or offers help in the smallest of ways. What Taylor demonstrates is that we actually don't owe anybody anything, except ourselves.

Being a kind person does not suggest that you should not have boundaries and expectations as to how you should be treated. See above.

Humility is more important than success. The empire she has created is astronomical, and the records she has shattered are too numerous to mention, but what remains the most incredible part about her is that she maintains such a deep sense of humility. She is genuinely surprised that she is still winning awards, people still want more music from her, and there are hundreds of thousands of fans signing her songs back to her in concert.  6. Connection is pivotal. Show me another celebrity who has private listening parties for their most devoted fans, who shows up and surprises people for special events, who literally creeps on their fans social media accounts to interact with them in new and inventive ways. I'll wait.

Wanting to be in love is normal. Over the years we have seen Taylor Swift labeled with every derogatory name one can think to a call a woman. (Repeating those names is not productive nor conducive to a positive conversation.) "And you understand now//Why they lost their minds and fought the wars//And why I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words." I think love is the reason we are here, it is what connects each to another. To be painted in a certain light as a result of searching for what every other human craves is not only wholly ridiculous, but creates an environment in which other women feel ashamed to want those same things, the ones we are taught are meant for us: a spouse, a family, a home, stability, I could go on. By keeping her head held high and continuing on in pursuit of a love that is real, Taylor creates space for all women to follow suit.  

Living your best, most fulfilling life is possible. It takes courage, vulnerability and hard fucking work, but you know what? So does living a life you're not completely satisfied with. So, I say we take the leap. We engage in things that light up our souls and set fire to our hearts.  Be vulnerable, open, loving and forgiving. Use the talents you have while cultivating the ones that do not come so naturally. You can be the person who dream of being - just take it one step at a time.

Taylor has been in the spotlight for over a decade. We have seen numerous incarnations of this woman, and it can boggle the mind, but they are all her. That's the point, though - the old Taylor might be dead, but the Taylor Swift we have come to love will always be what she's been - an intricate balance of all different aspects of herself. She is a woman, just like you or I - complicated, whole, and complete as we are.