It’s important to speak the things that remain unspoken… or rather, type the things that remain untyped.
When you comment on my blog, I see you and I appreciate you. I know it takes precious minutes out of your important day to scroll down the page, type in your information, and leave a message for me. I know that you don’t have to do this at all. I know that you could easily click over to Smitten Kitchen (which would be awesome), that you could click the other tab in your browser and continue watching Bachelor Pad on Hulu (because that’s totally what I would do), that you could go make yourself another cup of coffee (duh). Instead you take the time to say hello to me. That makes you amazing.
I see you, and I appreciate you. I read your comments from my phone first thing in the morning. I read your comments when I’m waiting in line at the grocery. When I’m at a restaurant and my companion has run to the restroom… I’m reading your comments. Truth is… I love you in a weird way. I think we’re friends. Other truth is… I try my hardest to respond to all of your questions and concerns in the comment section, and I’m not always the best at it. Just as a tip: I’m pretty stellar at responding to people on Twitter. That’s true. Despite my flaws, I am indebted to you.
I’m here to graciously offer my gratitude. I really do appreciate that you come here and take the time to let me know that you are, in fact, here. It really means so much to me. Without your comments… I’m kinda just a weird girl that makes too many cookies and talks to her cat. Thank you for making me more than that (although I’d be totally fine with being a cookie-maker-cat-speaker). I appreciate you, and I don’t take your presence for granted. I find you to be a blessing in my life.
Amy
and I find you to be a blessing in mine <-:
Deb U.
I originally started reading your blog because I like to cook. However, I quickly came to really enjoy what you said and how you said it – your style. Reading your blog feels like getting together and chatting with a dear friend and it helped me get through some difficult days following a break-up. Thank you for being you and doing what you do.
P.S. Thank you also for not being married or pregnant or newly with child AND being okay with that.
Katie @ Blonde Ambition
in my list of food blog bookmarks, you are above Smitten Kitchen :) your food posts are beautiful, but it’s your non-food posts that really make me smile!
Julie
Hi Joy! I’ve been coming to your website and listening to your podcast for a good year. My first comment is because I hosted my 30th!! birthday brunch this weekend and made *3* of your receipes.
The gluten free spinach mushroom quiche, the Creme Fraiche quiche with bacon (rave, rave, rave reviews) and the Vanilla bean berry cake… I topped it with powdered sugar and more berries as the temps reached 108 in Phoenix on Sunday. The bruch was a success, in part thanks to you.
Keep on keeping on!!! You continue to inspire me to keep trying new things.
Christine M.
Joy, you are my absolutely favorite food blogger. I love the way you write and the way you share with all of us here on the interwebs. I love your recipes, too – don’t get me wrong! I come back to your blog again and again to not only look at your pics and see what you’re making, though, but to read your cute musings on life and relationships and health and yourself and all of us. The fact that you even wrote this post is a testament to how amazing you are! I read a lot of blogs and I find it’s rare for the creator to so openly and humbly thank his or her followers. It means a lot, Joy, and you mean so much to us! Glad we’re weirdly friends :)
Amix
We love you, Joy! You are really so nice to post this :) Really do feel like we are weirdly friends and so it makes me feel a little less weird when I see you say that too! I don’t even comment much but I always want to get in touch when I read your posts – to say you’re amazing, to say well done, and sometimes I want to reach out and just give you a little confidence, because you are awesome so why don’t you know it?! Hugs :)
Kellybeth
When I first started reading your blog, I wasn’t much of a cook. I was, in fact, practically a baby; still in high school, terribly confused about what being a grownup would be like, and when I found your blog I stuck around here because you’re so comforting and funny and warm and special, and it felt like having the cool older sister I always wanted to show me how it was done. Now, I’m a big girl with a big girl apartment and kitchen and boy, and I cook every night, except for when I’ve had a bad day and then it’s froyo for dinner, let’s be real.
I read everything you post, and wish I always had time to comment. I do sometimes, but not nearly enough. I hope you know that for every one of us who comments, there are ten or twenty or a hundred more reading, nodding to ourselves and smiling. It’s strange in the world of blogging because we know you like a dear friend, but you don’t know much of us except for these few comments. So I’m here to say hi, you rock. We want to be your friend. You make us smile. And laugh. And sometimes cry a little because you say just what we need to hear. Thanks, Joy.
Courtney
Ive been reading your blog for some time and this post inspired me to leave my first comment. Thanks for always sharing fun recipes and stories! I bought your cookbook soon after it came out and really like it–great job! (*^^*)
kayleigh
thank you so much for this sweet post, Joy. i love how involved you are with your readers and how you really make your blog a community. i look forward to every time there is a new post, and i actually cried about not being able to come to one of your book tour stops and meet you (i’m not a crazy stalker, promise!!) you just seem like such a genuine and honest person and everything you write has such a beauty about it. your blog has helped me through some tough times, whether it be when i really needed some real talk, or just some wicked good brownies. please keep doing you!
prjanik
Talking to the cats is not bad ;)…sometimes they give the right answer!
I like your blog very much, but my english is too bad for oftener comments :)
Bonnie {PaperKeeper}
Good morning! What a perfect post…so honest, open and warm…and I can totally relate! I love how you put this out there, it’s important for readers to know the writer would lo engage, to chat, to connect. I hope you have a chatty kind of day! With your cat, and many others :)
Mindy
We know all that, though nice of you to say.
Tracy
Joy you totally rock! Is it creepy/weird that I feel like you are my friend? Anyways, your blog is my ABSOLUTE favorite! Keep being you!!
Kris
You are the epitome of joy. Your parents knew it when they named you, didn’t they?
Michelle
Much love! Thank you for sharing your amazing recipes and for all the life wisdom. I always look forward to reading your posts! Thank you!