After watching the Miss Americana documentary, I was inspired to sit down and put my thoughts on paper, just like Taylor Swift was able to do through the big screen. After fifteen years of hate being broadcasted about her on such a grand scale, Taylor built up the courage and brought awareness to her truth.
Just like us, she feels hurt, insecure, scared, and unsure of herself. She touches on many different subjects, ranging from her struggles with self-love, success, politics, and her thirst for approval. For many years she has been deemed "annoying," "boy crazy," "calculated," "inauthentic," and more. Miss Americana is Taylor's way of showing her side of the story and the personal growth that sparked from it.
After years of holding in her political views, Taylor couldn't stay silent any longer. She was particularly outspoken about a politician, Marsha Blackburn, who disagrees with many fundamental human rights.
Blackburn does not want same-sex marriage to be legal. She believes that public places have the right to throw same-sex couples out. Additionally, she opposes equal pay for women and the Violence Against Women Act, to name a few. This act protects females and improves criminal justice regarding domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in the United States.
After discovering this information with my boyfriend (yes, we watched it together), he was horrified and astounded. "How could someone, especially a woman, a minority in her own right, have that much disregard for basic human rights?" I couldn't explain it to him, because the truth is, I don't understand it myself.
After Taylor rose up and spoke her mind, over 52,000 people registered to vote in just 24 hours. Now, I'm not saying that we all have the vast influence she does, but a little goes a long way. Small actions can make a big difference, which is why I find it so vital to be honest and open-minded.
I've learned that change comes from being vulnerable. It takes strength to reveal your truth and fight for what's right. There's a sense of freedom that comes with expressing yourself and trusting your gut. Others will eventually follow suit.
When I began writing several years ago, it all started from heartbreak. I remember sitting on my couch in the middle of the night, staring at the blank space in front of me and typing through my tears. It was the only way I could express everything I was feeling. The emotions that I spilled onto that page turned into my very first article.
Was I terrified to post it? Definitely. Was I glad I did? Absolutely – and it changed my life for the better.
After all, fear is essential in order to obtain success. If we don't face our fears, we're just going to be stuck in the same version of ourselves for the rest of our lives.
Similar to Taylor's need for songwriting, I found a vessel where I can focus all of my feelings. This helped me make sense of the web of thoughts and ideas that are tangled in my mind. I've discovered more about myself than I ever thought possible. I initially believed that my writing was for myself and my own sanity. What I didn't expect was for it to turn into something more significant and meaningful; I was helping others.
The first article I posted came with mostly wonderful feedback. Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that people would reach out and thank me for expressing what they couldn't. But it also came with backlash. I was denounced as "The Odyssey Girl." Fortunately, I was not deterred by it and took my nickname and ran with it. This only made my sparks fly.
If people only see the negatives of my belief that we should be better to ourselves and others, it is their problem, not mine.
I always used to say to myself, "everything happens for a reason, have faith in what will be." When I was unable to make sense of it all, I would find solace in that mantra. Fast forward to today, look what [that heartbreak] made me do. I wouldn't be the person I am now. I wouldn't be here writing the things that I want to write about, unapologetically.
Not everyone is going to like you.
Not everyone is going to agree with you.
And that's okay.
We're all perfectly unique in our own way. That's the beauty of being human. Life would be pretty dull otherwise.
Ironically, the very boy who broke my heart has opened himself up to becoming a better person than I could've ever dreamt he could be. Writing has helped me! manifest my own success story. I truly am so lucky. After I was able to find myself through words, we were able to begin again.
He's the one who urged me to sit down and start typing this article after we watched the documentary. He told me that he knew I could write something impactful from what we learned. He supports me every single day to dive deep into my abilities and believe in myself. He helps me push my boundaries, and by doing so, I can hopefully do the same for others.
I realized, as did Taylor, if we always hold our thoughts in, we're only going to suffocate. Yes, speaking out is scary, but it's also incredibly freeing.
We're all human.
We all have flaws.
We all have the power to create change.
Do one thing every day that makes you happy. Ask a friend how they're doing. You never know what they could be going through. Tell someone what you like about them. Change your negatives into positives. Your confidence will inspire others.
Seemingly meaningless acts can make more of a difference than you know. The little things matter.
No one knows your whole story, and I'm sure it was difficult for Taylor to share hers. It's tough to be raw and honest the way in which she was, especially in front of the entire world. But what I learned from it all is:
Be vulnerable and speak now.
Our life is the story of us, and we're in charge of the narrative, no one else is.
Stop judging yourself and fretting over the small stuff. Remember to shake it off.
Most importantly: become a part of the change. There are infinite amounts of ways to do so. It all starts with you.
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