From left: Ally’s associate; Cup of Jo readers Ally and Emma; and Emma’s associate.
Cup of Jo readers are famously good storytellers, so it’s no shock that really inspiring stuff goes down within the feedback sections. We requested readers to share their favourite “come for the weblog, keep for the feedback” second…
On discovering friendship:
“After this put up kicked off a flurry of reader meet-ups, we — Ally and Emma — determined to fulfill for a stroll, regardless that we had by no means met. Whereas speaking, we have been shocked to understand that the next Tuesday, we have been each heading to Mexico… on the identical flight… to the identical small city. So, a friendship blind date became worldwide journey plans inside three days! We went to the seashore, witnessed child sea turtles getting launched, and took sundown images collectively as if we’d identified one another for years (photograph above). We love sharing our origin story with folks — the ‘we met within the feedback of our favourite weblog’ by no means ceases to amaze.” — Ally and Emma
“I went to a NYC get-together for individuals who responded to a put up about making pals as an grownup. I met a fellow reader who had not too long ago moved to town and wished to start out a wine membership. Now, years later, our wine membership nonetheless meets each single month. We’re from all completely different walks of life and would by no means have met if I hadn’t commented on that put up years in the past. Without end grateful.” — Lauren
On phrases to recollect:
“Years in the past, I learn a remark about how water makes all the pieces higher. Every time I’m unhappy, I take a bathe, cry, or drink an enormous glass of water. It really works 99% of the time!” — Hannah
“Every time I return a purchasing cart within the car parking zone, I all the time suppose: ‘Do it for Larry.’” — Lisa
On bonding over books:
“A number of years in the past, there was a put up about books that ended with a whole lot of feedback of readers’ all-time favorites. I made an enormous listing and for the final three years, I’ve been studying by all of them. That is spectacular for me as a result of I used to common two to 3 books a 12 months, however I now common 20! Thanks, CoJ, for increasing my horizons. — Shailaja
“When my youngsters have been toddlers, each my mother and father have been going by most cancers therapies, and it was a really difficult interval. I bookmarked an Ashley Ford put up about romance novels and started studying by her listing, beginning with The Hating Recreation. After I completed these, I began studying the books beneficial within the feedback. I felt supported by a group I trusted.” — Kate
On wedding ceremony planning:
“My then-fiancé and I discovered our first dance music within the Cup of Jo feedback! I used to be listening to songs beneficial on this put up, and after I heard Crowded Desk by the Highwomen, I received hooked on the uplifting refrain and superb lyrics. The music now means a lot to my associate and me and units the proper tone for our marriage.” — Juliette
“Whereas wedding ceremony planning, I used to be searching for readings that weren’t Bible verses. I stumbled onto this poetry put up. Deep within the feedback, somebody talked about Mouthful of Forevers by Clementine von Radics. After I learn it for the primary time, I sat at my desk at work simply weeping. My mom learn the poem throughout our ceremony, and I’ll all the time keep in mind how her voice caught on the final couple traces. I by no means would have discovered this poem with out the fantastic readers of Cup of Jo. So, thanks!” — Joanna
On dealing with grief:
“We misplaced our first child to a congenital coronary heart defect three days after her delivery. Later, I used to be studying a put up by which the interviewee stated she was ‘a mom of two,’ having misplaced a child herself. That resonated with me, and I shared within the feedback that I used to be a mom of 1. One other reader replied, ‘Be sort to your self, particularly on the exhausting days.’ Extending kindness in direction of ourselves can really feel overseas however it was a lesson I desperately wanted. I’ve since shared the sentiment with others, and it all the time offers my coronary heart a tug.” — Kelsey
“I work with stage 4 most cancers sufferers, and essentially the most profound feedback I’ve ever learn have been in response to the posts on grief. They’ve modified how I deal with tough conditions with sufferers of their understanding of what’s occurring. Now when somebody experiences a loss, I’ll share these posts with them. They’ve made an enormous distinction for me and people I look after.” — Tricia
On the most effective relationship recommendation:
“5 years in the past, I used to be deep within the throes of deciding whether or not or to not have youngsters. I stumbled upon a put up known as ‘I’m Not Positive If I Need Children or Not. How Do You Resolve?’ I pored over the feedback part for hours, late into the evening. I felt such camaraderie with these folks regardless that we’d by no means met. The vary and depth of the responses have been unbelievable. As I learn, I felt compelled to do one thing that I’d by no means finished earlier than: I copied and pasted a number of the feedback right into a observe for myself. To me, they have been treasures and the thought of not with the ability to simply revisit them was untenable. What occurred was profound. I discovered my voice and my coronary heart in these handpicked feedback. These feedback resonated with me as a result of they matched the choice I’d made in my coronary heart however hadn’t but made in my head. I now have two fantastic youngsters and know, certainly, that I made the fitting choice for me. I’ll all the time be grateful to the CoJ group.” — Lauren
“A reader named Meg as soon as commented: ‘My mother described love like gentle. For some folks, it’s like a lightswitch. Increase, gentle! Increase, you already know! And for others, perhaps it’s extra like a dawn. Indistinguishable at first. Mild coming so progressively that you simply virtually don’t discover till abruptly, you end up within the full brilliant solar… The good love in my life was a dawn.’ Actually, till then, I’d solely had ‘lightswitch’ romances. However my final ‘lightswitch’ love actually broke me, so my coronary heart was tender and tentative. When my present associate and I began relationship, as an alternative of sparks, I felt a deep degree of consolation and ease that was so unfamiliar that I used to be virtually suspicious. He’s sort, affected person, and encourages me to be my messiest, most imperfect self. It sounds tacky however I got here again to this remark a number of occasions for reassurance that it was okay to not instantly ‘know.’ We’re nonetheless collectively and I quoted this CoJ remark in my two-year-anniversary card, calling him my ‘nice dawn love.’” — Sonia
On a cheering part if you want it most:
“Cup of Jo commenters have been there for me by life’s largest moments and offered a heat hug after I didn’t even know I wanted one. I keep in mind being at work studying a ‘How are you doing?’ put up. I commented that I used to be heading house to take a being pregnant check and felt nervous. Readers left reassuring feedback, which made me tear up. Come to search out out, that being pregnant check got here again optimistic. Quick ahead a pair weeks earlier than I gave delivery, and what have you learnt, one other ‘How are you doing?’ put up. I expressed how nervous I used to be to present delivery and as soon as once more, was responded to by extra loving readers wishing me properly.” — Julie
“I wrote down this remark and put it on the wall above my desk. It jogs my memory to generously help everybody’s huge and small moments as a result of it all the time feels good.” — Julie
What’s your “keep for the feedback” story? We might love to listen to from you.
P.S. 10 of the funniest reader feedback and 12 feel-good reader feedback.
