By Hannah Orenstein
Taylor Swift may have four best-selling albums, six Grammy Awards, and 11 American Music Awards, but that doesn't stop her critics from endlessly harping on her for one silly thing: She has a revolving door of boyfriends. She's often portrayed as burning through a string of high-profile guys, only to turn each relationship into a chart-topping single. Her Campus doesn't see it that way -– instead, we see a girl who's learning a lot about relationships as she grows up, just like us. Be thankful she writes so honestly about her relationships, because now it's our turn to steal seven major love lessons from her lyrics.
1. Trust your gut.
“Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in.So shame on me now...”– “I Knew You Were Trouble,” "Red"
Some relationships are doomed before they even begin (Ahem, may we remind you of your last drunken hook-up? His name was... Jake? John? Jared? He never texted you back.) If a guy's bad rep precedes him or you just get a weird vibe from him, it might be best to save yourself heartbreak and avoid getting too involved in the first place.
Rumor has it that these particular lyrics were inspired by Harry Styles, who may or may not be Taylor's new beau. Come on, Taylor, we know you know better than to get involved with a womanizer like Harry. You said it yourself!
2. Leave the past behind.
“I remember when we broke up the first timeSaying this is it, I've had enough, 'cause likeWe haven't seen each other in a monthWhen you, said you, needed space, what?Then you come around again and sayBaby, I miss you and I swear I'm gonna changeTrust me, remember how that lasted for a dayI say, I hate you, we break up, you call me, I love you...”– “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” "Red"
We know how tempting it is to get back together with your ex: you can't stop re-reading his old texts, you miss being with him, and –- this is the clincher –- he's begging to have you back. But before you jump back into the relationship, give Taylor's words serious consideration. Do you really think he's going to have changed? Will the relationship be better this time around, or will it eventually lead to another painful break-up?
Taylor supposedly wrote this hit about her on-again, off-again relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal. After a second attempt at a relationship, she said goodbye for good. If you're struggling to get out of an on-again, off-again relationship, consider a period of no communication until you've both moved on.
3. Break-ups suck, but there's light at the end of the tunnel.
“I've been spending the last 8 monthsThinking all love ever doesIs break and burn and endBut on a Wednesday in a cafeI watched it begin again...”– “Begin Again,” "Red"
You went through a pint (or two) of Ben & Jerry's, wore black on Valentine's Day, and declared that love isn't real. Those are all completely valid ways to deal with nasty break-ups. But before you swear off dating for the rest of your life, remember that you won't always feel as hurt and depressed as you do right now. One way to get through those low moments is to completely distract yourself from anything related to dating. Have a movie night with your best friend (no rom-coms allowed), call your little brother, or channel your mood into an awesome workout at the gym.
Need a little real life inspiration for finding love again? Check out Taylor's track record. After a summer fling with Conor Kennedy, she got back into the dating game with Harry Styles.
4. It might not be too late to apologize.“Because the last time you saw meIs still burned in the back of your mindYou gave me roses, and I left them there to dieSo this is me swallowing my prideStanding in front of you, saying I'm sorry for that nightAnd I go back to December all the time...”– “Back To December,” "Speak Now"
You threw a low blow at your boyfriend during a heated fight last night... but now that you've had a chance to cool off, you feel awful. Your boyfriend deserves an apology, just like in Taylor's lyrics. (Note: Her Campus cannot guarantee the success rate of apologies sung outside dorm windows. For best results, try a face-to-face conversation.) You know the drill: March over there and tell him how sincerely sorry you are.
But not every situation warrants an apology. If the fight or break-up happened months ago, digging it up will only re-ignite hurt feelings. And if he's already moved on, so has the expiration date for the apology. (For the record, “Back To December” is most likely about Taylor Lautner. After the pair called it quits in December 2009, they didn't make any attempts at getting back together -– some relationships should simply stay in the past.)
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Before You Go
