“I need to thank the commenter who recommended the novel Beautyland,” wrote a reader named Julie. “I laughed and teared up and even threw the book down after reading a particularly killer line; I never want it to end. Can we do a post where everyone says, ‘I want to thank the CoJ commenter who…’ We can have a giant dogpile of gratitude and ‘Can you believe how lucky we are this site exists?!’”
Julie’s comment made me clutch my heart — and I couldn’t agree more with her sentiment that the CoJ community always shows up with humor and wisdom. Here are a few things I’ve learned from CoJ readers, and I’d LOVE to hear your answers, too.
* “Go first in the buffet line. Why does no one want to be the one to start it? I am always up for that task.” — Sydnee
* “In heart-to-hearts with kids/spouses/parents, ask ‘Do you want to vent, or are you looking for help?’ My mom did this, and it was so nice to talk freely without getting her two cents and also to get her sage advice when I did want it. It’s priceless to know that someone loves you enough to listen to you vent.” — Molly
* “My goal one year was to replace all my small, silly underwear with huge panties and BE OK WITH IT, and it’s still the best resolution I’ve made. My life changed when I bought undies two sizes too big. So comfy! No wedgies! This must be how men feel EVERY DAY OF THEIR DAMN LIVES! I’m a hardcore big panty evangelist.” — Jen
* “Your work does not determine your worth.” — Alicia
* “My parents divorced when my sisters and I were very young, and our lives changed financially for the worse as my mother refused alimony and just wanted ‘her girls.’ Growing up first-generation Latina during a time when Latina women rarely got divorced, I felt very lonely. But reading Little Women made me feel less alone, since the March girls went through their own trials, and poverty was also a huge theme in their lives.” — Mallory
* “When you need to chop an onion, place your cutting board on your stovetop and turn on the vent/fan. No tears!” — Lisa
* “I once read that we should think, ‘just like me sometimes.’ As in, ‘That person is being a jerk…just like me sometimes’ or ‘She is being completely unreasonable… just like me sometimes.’ A good reminder that none of us are perfect!” — Laura
Plus, a million books and movies and TV series! I recently finished The Husbands (“such a fun audiobook, especially with the British accents,” commented Riss), and Deadloch is up next.
What about you??? What have you gleaned from CoJ readers? ILYSM xoxo
P.S. Our best reader comments and readers share their tattoos, cozy corners, and gray hair. Plus, one reader’s introvert nook!
