Time Out! It’s The New Year And I’m Entering My Travis Kelce Era

You know what they say new year, new me… but what if I said new year, relatively same me, and don’t date me unless you’re willinging to treat me like Travis treats Taylor? I suppose that doesn’t have the same ring to it now does it… but nonetheless that is my stance for 2024.

It truly was Taylor Swift’s year; from dominating the music charts, selling out her Eras Tour in a matter of minutes, and being minted as the world’s newest billionaire… no wonder she was named 2023’s Person of the Year by Times Magazine. While it seems we get a new alert every other day on our phones about her, I'm going to give you one more because not only is she promoting womanhood, she’s also inspiring us to raise our standards when it comes to dating. 

While haters might say Swift’s multitude of  exes makes her tragically under experienced, or significantly over experienced, to give dating advice, it seems everyone recognizes that new beau Travis Kelce is different from the rest. I mean come on, the word of the year is “rizz” and Travis Kelce is the living, breathing, and walking representation of that. Beyond his charisma, there’s something to be learned from his actions and the nature of their relationship and it can be summed up in three words: admiration, support, and above all else, consistency. 

We’ve all heard the quote “if they wanted to, they would.” Nowadays, it seems as if we’ve deemed it uncool to tell our new beau that we’re proud of them, boast about them to our friends and family, and publicly support them on social media. But while the average person can’t jet across the world to catch their partner’s concert, seeing how Travis publicly and openly quawks at Taylor’s achievements sets the bar for unwavering support and adoration.

Let’s also talk about how Travis isn’t afraid to be known as “Taylor Swift’s boyfriend” despite holding multiple NFL records. You don’t see him throwing a fit when news outlets report on Taylor’s attending his games, even when they highlight it way more than the best plays of the game. He’s secure with who he is, is proud to be with her, and clearly admires her work even though it’s a completely different world from his own. 

I know booktok has all of us fantasizing for our “man written by a woman” or romance novel fairytale ending, and yes perhaps it’s slightly unrealistic to expect an airplane proposal or steamy makeout sesh after a massive argument in the middle of a  random rainstorm, but it’s not too much to expect intentional and sincere moves without a hidden agenda. Seek out your Travis this year, not your Jonathan (FYI that’s Simone Biles’ husband because I know you most certainly didn’t know who he was).

I must admit all of this is easier said than done and I sometimes find myself wanting to hold onto things (& people) that I know aren’t right for me because having a dinner date, cuddle buddy, or someone you know will answer your “u up” text is comforting – especially when we live in cities that are so dense yet extremely lonely. However, we must remember that if what we’re seeking is a genuine and intimate partnership, the longer we stay with someone who isn’t that, the longer we push off getting what we actually want and truly deserve. 

At the end of the day Travis Kelce was a man with a friendship bracelet and a dream: date the most popular woman in the world. He’s a reminder to be bold. If he can be charming, consistent, and supportive, you most definitely can hold your partner to that standard and let them go if they’re unable to step up. Don’t be discouraged if it takes a minute to find your bae – look how long it took Taylor to find hers, after all! Happy dating!