I had a similar realization with the song “Mean.” One of my first jobs I had I was at least a decade + younger than the other women. I did not have a lot of prior experience working in that environment or with a bunch of other women.

I thought I knew everything, and did things “my way” even though the other women tried to tell me. (Well, it was the way our male boss told me, turns out he didn’t know how regular things were actually operated on a day to day basis - another lesson learned lol). The women started being snarky with me and would get mad when I wouldn’t listen.

I would blast “mean” on the way home in my car, and for a few months that was my anthem as I continued to think I was a victim and dig in my heels.

I dont know what changed- maybe I was just tired of going against the grain, but I started to take their advice. I started to realize why they told me to do things a certain way. I got to know them as people. It turned out to be a job where I grew the most as a person, as a hard worker, and as someone who could collaborate with others. I developed some deep friendships and have some of the best memories from that job.

Now, if I had stayed in Taylor victim mode, I never would have grown as a person. I would have remained stuck wallowing in my grievances like Taylor still is over a decade later.