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 post kicked off a flurry of reader meet-ups, we — Ally and Emma — determined to satisfy for a stroll, though we had by no means met. Whereas speaking, we had been stunned to comprehend that the next Tuesday, we had been each heading to Mexico… on the identical flight… to the identical small city. So, a friendship blind date was worldwide journey plans inside three days! We went to the seashore, witnessed child sea turtles getting launched, and took sundown pictures collectively as if we’d identified one another for years (picture above). We love sharing our origin story with individuals — 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 post about making friends as an adult. 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 comment about how water makes every part higher. Each time I’m unhappy, I take a bathe, cry, or drink an enormous glass of water. It really works 99% of the time!” — Hannah
“Each time I return a purchasing cart within the parking zone, I at all times suppose: ‘Do it for Larry.’” — Lisa
On bonding over books:
“A number of years in the past, there was a post about books that ended with a whole lot of feedback of readers’ all-time favorites. I made an enormous record and for the final three years, I’ve been studying via 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 had been toddlers, each my mother and father had been going via most cancers therapies, and it was a really difficult interval. I bookmarked an Ashley Ford put up about romance novels and commenced studying via her record, beginning with The Hating Game. After I completed these, I began studying the books really useful within the feedback. I felt supported by a neighborhood I trusted.” — Kate
On marriage ceremony planning:
“My then-fiancé and I discovered our first dance tune within the Cup of Jo feedback! I used to be listening to songs really useful on this post, and after I heard Crowded Table by the Highwomen, I received hooked on the uplifting refrain and superb lyrics. The tune now means a lot to my associate and me and units the proper tone for our marriage.” — Juliette
“Whereas marriage ceremony planning, I used to be on the lookout for readings that weren’t Bible verses. I stumbled onto this poetry post. 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 at all times bear in mind how her voice caught on the final couple strains. I by no means would have discovered this poem with out the great 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 wherein the interviewee mentioned 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 form to your self, particularly on the onerous days.’ Extending kindness in direction of ourselves can really feel international however it was a lesson I desperately wanted. I’ve since shared the sentiment with others, and it at all times provides my coronary heart a tug.” — Kelsey
“I work with stage 4 most cancers sufferers, and probably the most profound feedback I’ve ever learn have been in response to the posts on grief. They’ve modified how I deal with troublesome 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 take care of.” — Tricia
On one of the best 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 post known as ‘I’m Not Positive If I Need Youngsters or Not. How Do You Resolve?’ I pored over the feedback part for hours, late into the night time. I felt such camaraderie with these individuals though we’d by no means met. The vary and depth of the responses had 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 had been treasures and the concept 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 great youngsters and know, indubitably, that I made the appropriate determination for me. I’ll at all times be grateful to the CoJ neighborhood.” — Lauren
“A reader named Meg as soon as commented: ‘My mother described love like gentle. For some individuals, it’s like a lightswitch. Increase, gentle! Increase, you understand! And for others, perhaps it’s extra like a dawn. Indistinguishable at first. Gentle coming so step by step that you just virtually don’t discover till unexpectedly, you end up within the full vibrant solar… The nice love in my life was a dawn.’ Truthfully, 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 a substitute of sparks, I felt a deep degree of consolation and ease that was so unfamiliar that I used to be virtually suspicious. He’s form, 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 instances 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 while you want it most:
“Cup of Jo commenters have been there for me via life’s greatest moments and offered a heat hug after I didn’t even know I wanted one. I bear in mind being at work studying a ‘How are you doing?’ put up. I commented that I used to be heading residence to take a being pregnant take a look at and felt nervous. Readers left reassuring feedback, which made me tear up. Come to seek out out, that being pregnant take a look at got here again constructive. 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 offer delivery and as soon as once more, was responded to by extra loving readers wishing me nicely.” — Julie
“I wrote down this remark and put it on the wall above my desk. It jogs my memory to generously assist everybody’s large and small moments as a result of it at all times feels good.” — Julie
What’s your “keep for the feedback” story? We’d love to listen to from you.
P.S. 10 of the funniest reader comments and 12 feel-good reader comments.
