Why Is Taylor Swift Person Of The Year?

There can only be one reason.

It is clear to me that there is only one reason - and one reason alone - why Taylor Swift is Time Magazine's Person of the Year - and it has nothing to do with money.

Taylor Swift is the Person of the Year because of her imposing global influence. In the last 12 months your phone -and the news- did not care whether or not you are a "Swiftie". All algorithms pointed you to the ora of Taylor Swift.

You heard about her concert.
You heard about her boyfriend.
You heard about her music.
You heard about her movie.

“She became the main character of the world”, Sam Lansky.

Have you read the article? It's superbly well written (I had to look up words in the dictionary!), and I was wholly engrossed by the first description of the singer-songwriter's ability to craft a story. The author, Sam Lansky, writes, (Taylor) ..."discovers a new happiness not despite challenges, but because of them."

Happiness not despite challenges, but because of them.
Happiness because I had challenges.
Happiness because I had hardship.
and happiness because I had heartbreak.

Can you feel that very thin, fine line? The concept is a minuscule tweak with gigantic repercussions.

It is not seeking happiness and eluding hardships.
It is achieving happiness and having hardships and heartbreaks.
It is holding both opposites in your hand at the same time.

It is hard to do.
And it is harder to parent.

TikToks, Reels, and Shorts blasting me from the palm of my hand to intervene, overschedule, parent like a helicopter or lawnmower, or team up with my daughters to emotionally bully anyone who comes at them.

Why? Why am I overwhelmed with messaging begging me to worry and shaming me if I don't intervene. I'll never be convinced that it's my role on this planet to remove the challenges
the hardships
and the heartbreaks.

I'll never believe less friction means a better life.

Oh, I've strategically elbowed my way in and intercepted the play with the intention of helping the score. Instead, I inadvertently subvert their emotional intelligence.

We've packed their lunches, did their laundry, arranged their playdates, bought bougie water bottles, and involved ourselves so radically and extensively that we failed to notice their growth was stunting.

Think I'm being dramatic? Ask a young adult to talk on the phone.

That's right, talk on the phone. We've got a generation walking around with phones in their hands that they are too afraid to use for a phone call.

If my adult child can't make an appointment for an oil change, how can I even expect they can do hard(er) things?

My husband and I recently discussed this parenting style and examined our own experiences and intentions. We are GenX; our parents essentially left us to fend for ourselves. We were gaslighted for needing things ... AS CHILDREN, and we were told to "stop crying before I give you something to cry about!"

I didn't raise my kids like I was raised. Why? Some say we're healing from our own trauma. So, instead, I think we moved in the opposite direction and gave them nothing to cry about

made things easy

and pretty

and crafty

and fancy

and we posted all of it online

and now they are afraid

and nervous

and anxious

and timid

and they have no happiness despite hardships and they certainly don't have any because of it.

Learning to let the challenges come and discovering as Taylor did after her Reputation album:

"Ooh, look what you made me do! Look what you made me do!"

It's happiness.

When the sun slowly rises, and you blink against the light, checking yourself for proof of having made it through the night, it's then that you realize I did it. I can do it. And it feels great. It feels like happiness.

p.s. I love music and making playlists. Check out all my favorite Taylor Swift songs on my Girl Boss Spotify playlist!