Taylor Swift’s engaged! Why do I care?
I woke up to a message from my best friend, with absolutely no context, saying “OMGGGG!” Not knowing what it was about, I then opened a group chat with two friends where a link to the news of Taylor’s engagement was sent. Instantly, I knew this was also related to my best friend’s exclamatory message.
Upon seeing the headline, I knew what to do next: open Instagram and see if there’s an official announcement from Taylor. And lo and behold, there it was, a carousel post from Taylor herself, where 5 photos from the engagement were shared. It’s official: She and Travis Kelce, her boyfriend of two years, are engaged!
As a fan, I wouldn’t say I was surprised. We were all rooting for Travis and Taylor, especially after glimpsing what their relationship was like when Taylor appeared at "New Heights," Travis’s podcast. But of course, hearing the news, I was still very much elated! There was even a point when, as I scrolled through my feed filled with posts about the engagement, I became emotional and teary-eyed.
This news, though about a seemingly unreachable, ultra-famous pop star, means so much to us, her fans, for many reasons and in many ways.
We grew up with Taylor
Almost a year and a half ago, I found myself miraculously at "The Eras Tour," through the invisible string weaved together by PhilSTAR L!fe. It was one of the best days ever, finally seeing Taylor in person, after years of listening to and empathizing with her art, her music. It was more special for me, as I saw her in concert just a year after Dad passed away. I was new to a life of deep grief and was really struggling. Listening to Taylor’s music was one of the ways I was able to cope and—dare I say—survive such a dark and difficult time in my life.
Although that was not the only time Taylor’s music ushered me through my struggles. Actually, for many of us Swifties, it feels like we grew up with Taylor. For me, who is almost the same age as her, I went through the emotional turbulence of teenage life and braved through the gravity of my adulthood with her music and lyrics.
Just as Taylor’s music has kept me company through the different seasons of my life, it has also given us, her fans, a window into hers. Through her songs, we witnessed her struggles and her victories as the years passed. She has always been open about drawing her music from her own life.
That is the power and magic of art: It is not just a space for personal catharsis, but also a bridge for empathy. Somehow, art lets creators and their audience connect and understand each other, even without ever meeting. Through her music, Taylor made us, her listeners, feel seen. And in return, we also learned to see and welcome her in our lives.
This is why, for many of us, Taylor’s engagement with Travis feels almost personal. It feels as though the friend whom we grew up with—whom we know has been through so much—is finally getting a really big win that she deserves.
I learned so much from her
Beyond this connection with Taylor and her music, this engagement also reminds me of three important things that I can carry with me as I go through life.
Never settle for less. Taylor has been with other good men, but there is no doubt that Travis loved her best. There were men in her past who loved her but seemed not to want to be associated with her. Travis, on the other hand, cheers for her proudly. I guess, to me, their engagement—and their relationship in general—is a reminder for us to pursue only the kind of love that accepts us for who we are; to only stick with the person who will love us in big and small, in loud and quiet ways.
Be brave. Taylor and Travis’s story, especially how it unfolded in the beginning, is a reminder for us that the universe rewards the brave. Travis, after being mesmerized by Taylor at "The Eras Tour," wanted and expected to meet Taylor at the stadium. When he was denied access to her on concert day, he put out there the desire to meet her by speaking about it in his podcast. Later on, we would find out that people who knew Travis vouched for him and convinced Taylor to meet with him. The rest is history. This is proof that sometimes, it pays to just shoot your shot. And, while waiting for the results, to be the kind of person that people vouch for. By doing this, most likely you will see how the universe will conspire to get you your heart’s dream.
Finally, and most personally for me, there is hope. This happy news feels like a pocket of light in such a dark era. Whenever I read the news these days, I feel a lot of hopelessness. But to hear about Taylor’s engagement feels like sunlight bursting through the clouds. It reminds us what hope feels like, and I believe we could all really use a glimmer of hope at a time like this.
There is a song (not by Taylor) that goes, “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day.” This joyful news from Taylor feels like that emotional support falling star that we can save for “rainy days”—just simply something to smile about. And in this day and age, I’ll take whatever wholesome thing is out there to smile about and let it give me joy.
I am sure many people are now itching to find out details about the wedding, especially when and where it will be, who’s coming, what she will be wearing, etc. I can’t blame them. It is said to be America’s Royal Wedding. But for me, I’m just happy to hear the news and bask in the hope that comes along with it—the hope that better things, the best things, are coming.
Now, excuse me as I blast So High School (one of Taylor’s songs written about Travis) all day and possibly for the rest of the year.
