From left: Ally’s companion; Cup of Jo readers Ally and Emma; and Emma’s companion.
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 publish kicked off a flurry of reader meet-ups, we — Ally and Emma — determined to satisfy for a stroll, although 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 seaside, witnessed child sea turtles getting launched, and took sundown photographs collectively as if we’d identified one another for years (photograph 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 publish about making associates as an grownup. I met a fellow reader who had just lately 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 totally different walks of life and would by no means have met if I hadn’t commented on that publish years in the past. Eternally 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 procuring cart within the parking zone, I at all times assume: ‘Do it for Larry.’” — Lisa
On bonding over books:
“A number of years in the past, there was a publish about books that ended with a whole lot of feedback of readers’ all-time favorites. I made a large checklist and for the final three years, I’ve been studying by means of 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 children had been toddlers, each my dad and mom had been going by means of most cancers remedies, and it was a really difficult interval. I bookmarked an Ashley Ford publish about romance novels and started studying by means of her checklist, beginning with The Hating Recreation. Once I completed these, I began studying the books really helpful 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 track within the Cup of Jo feedback! I used to be listening to songs really helpful on this publish, and after I heard Crowded Desk by the Highwomen, I bought hooked on the uplifting refrain and superb lyrics. The track now means a lot to my companion and me and units the right tone for our marriage.” — Juliette
“Whereas wedding ceremony planning, I used to be in search of readings that weren’t Bible verses. I stumbled onto this poetry publish. Deep within the feedback, somebody talked about Mouthful of Forevers by Clementine von Radics. Once 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 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 publish by which 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 exhausting days.’ Extending kindness in direction of ourselves can really feel international nevertheless 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 tough conditions with sufferers of their understanding of what’s taking place. 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 children. I stumbled upon a publish known as ‘I’m Not Certain 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 individuals although 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 carried out earlier than: I copied and pasted a number of the feedback right into a be aware 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 fantastic kids and know, indubitably, that I made the appropriate choice for me. I’ll at all times be grateful to the CoJ group.” — Lauren
“A reader named Meg as soon as commented: ‘My mother described love like mild. For some individuals, it’s like a lightswitch. Increase, mild! Increase, you realize! And for others, perhaps it’s extra like a dawn. Indistinguishable at first. Mild coming so regularly that you just nearly don’t discover till hastily, you end up within the full shiny solar… The nice 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 companion and I began courting, as a substitute of sparks, I felt a deep stage of consolation and ease that was so unfamiliar that I used to be nearly 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 if you want it most:
“Cup of Jo commenters have been there for me by means of 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?’ publish. 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?’ publish. I expressed how nervous I used to be to provide delivery and as soon as once more, was responded to by extra loving readers wishing me effectively.” — Julie
“I wrote down this remark and put it on the wall above my desk. It jogs my memory to generously help everybody’s massive 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 feedback and 12 feel-good reader feedback.