Wise Words From Readers: On love at first sight…

Love is a pretty complicated thing. How we find it, how we keep it, how we lose it… those are all the mysteries of the universe to us. And perhaps, the concept of love at first sight is the most complicated riddle of them all. Can we believe in it if we’ve never experienced it before? Does it even exist in the first place? If you’re like me, you’ve probably thought about this a lot — OK, maybe I’ve thought about it too much sometimes — and wonder if you’ll ever be able to define such an abstract idea. I must have some pretty smart friends, though, because it didn’t seem to take you long to arrive at your conclusion this week…

*I don’t believe in love at first sight since sight is only one sense and love for me is an emotional, rather than sensory, experience!

*I DO believe in love at first sight. I can tell I like a guy from about 50 feet away. And honestly, if I don’t get that feeling immediately, it’s probably not going to work out! You always have to go with your gut, you know?

*I used to believe in love at first sight but don’t anymore. I believe you can see someone for the first time and be attracted. But love? Love takes time. Love takes knowledge of who the other person is. You can’t just fall in love with someone based on their looks. You have to KNOW them.

*Yes, fell in love with my wife that way. Almost seven years later and it gets better every day.

*Nope. I’d call that lust. Love is based on trust and personality traits that can’t possibly be “seen” at first sight. I love my husband because of his laugh, goofy sense of humor, the way he smiles when he’s lying, etc. That’s stuff I learned after dating. Of course I am attracted to him physically, but that’s not love.

*I sure do! The reason I believe in love at first sight is because the sweetness and kindness of a smile is sometimes all you need. KEEP IN MIND — “love at first sight” can mean a newborn in the family!!! As with all things in life — if you mean only romantic love — I still believe, but use discernment and wisdom to proceed.

*Oh yeah, I have done it several times. LOL.

You all know I’ve struggled with this question over the years. Maybe “struggled” is a bit dramatic, but I’ve definitely went back and forth on the issue. I thought I was in love with Crush Boy when I was 13, and, well, we all know just how that turned out, don’t we? So perhaps I’m a bit more jaded now, but I like to think my hopeless romantic heart is still beating in there somewhere. Anyway, here’s next week’s question…

What is your all-time favorite movie and why?

Visit So About What I Said on Facebook and Twitter to share your smarts — and don’t forget to use hashtag #WiseWordsFromReaders. See you there, friends! :)


[Photos via We Heart It]

Wise Words From Readers: On favorite foods…

Speaking of food, we all have our favorites that we go back to, don’t we? They’re our comfort foods that we never seem to get tired of, no matter how many times we have them. Maybe it’s your mom’s famous blueberry muffins or your uncle’s homemade pizza — it’s those foods that make your mouth water at the mere mention of them. And if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life? Well, you all had some pretty firm opinions this week…

*If coffee is not a food (LOL) then I would have to say pasta because I’m a good Italian…

*Nuts, without a doubt. Yummy, filling and full of protein.

*Ground round because you can do so much with it and I’m a red meat kinda gal!

*Tacos, I think!

*Cereal — so versatile and simple!

*Pizza because you can put so many different things on it.

*Ice cream!! Because it’s my favorite!

*I crave broccoli. When I was in the hospital, I was eating it twice a day, but reading other posts, I would really miss pizza.

*My own homemade vegetable beef soup!

I love all the diversity and the reasoning behind your answers this week, friends. For me, I’d definitely choose my mom’s lasagna! I remember making it with her when I was a kid, and it was such a fun thing to do together — huddle in our small kitchen, carefully adding layer after layer of pasta to our creation. Occasionally, we’d dip a noodle into the sauce and preview our creation! As you can probably tell, I’m pretty big on childhood food memories. Anyway, here’s next week’s question…

Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not?

Visit So About What I Said on Facebook and Twitter to share your smarts — and don’t forget to use hashtag #WiseWordsFromReaders. See you there, friends! :)

[Photos via We Heart It]

Wise Words From Readers: On desert island essentials…

When I was a kid, I used to watch Gillian’s Island in complete awe. I was mystified. How could one group of people have so many things — clothes, food, Mrs. Howell’s jewelry — when they originally thought they were only going on a three-hour tour? What was their secret? I’ve thought about it over the years, especially about the things I would bring if I were stranded on a desert island. It’s a tough question, isn’t it? Well, friends, you make it look pretty easy, actually…

*Beau (husband), flint stone and a good knife. Beau because I can’t imagine life without him. Flint stones to start a fire. A good knife for just about everything else.

*Air conditioning (because I’m a wimp in the heat), your mom’s almond cookies (because I would eat something poisonous in the first day guaranteed) and my husband Aaron (because even though he’s an awful liar he would tell me that everything would be fine and I would believe him).

*A radio, the Encyclopedia Britannica and a dry box of matches.

*Three back up planes because I would never last on a deserted island! I am a BIG wimp and comfort creature.

*A notebook, a pen and some chocolate truffles.

So what would I pack in my Lost At Sea bag? A journal, of course, since I doubt that I’ll be able to get Internet access. Family photos to keep me company. And lots of root beer to make sure I stay well hydrated. Let’s just hope I never have to pack such a bag, right? Anyway, here’s next week’s question…

If you could only eat ONE food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Visit So About What I Said on Facebook and Twitter to share your smarts — and don’t forget to use hashtag #WiseWordsFromReaders. See you there, friends! :)


[Photos via We Heart It]

Wise Words From Readers: On the beginnings of fall…

Ahh, can you feel the crisp chill in the air, friends? Can you smell that familiar scent of burning leaves in the distance? Can you spot the beautiful leaves dancing as they fall off the trees? It all comes together to create one intoxicating recipe for fall. I know — it’s hard to believe, but the first official day of fall is right around the corner. Everyone has their favorite season, but fall seems to hold an extra special place in people’s hearts. And your memories were quite strong this week…

*My favorite part is the air. It always smells a little different and it almost feels like you’re drinking fresh water when you take a deep breath of chilly fall air! I love when it smells of crunchy leaves, burning wood, apples, hay, etc. Those are the smells I associate with autumn. Also, the sound of crunching leaves on a walk makes me so happy! Oh, how could I forget marching band season!!!!! Yessssssss!!!!

*Joe (my husband) and I fell in love in the fall!

*Walking home from school, kicking the leaves in the gutter the whole way. Bonfires!!! After the frosts begin, the air smells clean and sharp. I love the autumn! Marching band and football games. The stars seem clearer.

*Cooler temps in the South!

*I enjoy the sense of newness, like things are about to turn around.

What wonderful memories…makes me want to jump in a pile of leaves or go pick raspberries in our favorite orchard, which is something we always used to do when I was growing up. Also on my list: Candy corn, caramel apples, apple cider donuts and pumpkins. Hmmm, I’m noticing that my list is quite heavy on the food! Anyway, here’s next week’s question…

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you bring along and why?



Visit So About What I Said on Facebook and Twitter to share your smarts — and don’t forget to use hashtag #WiseWordsFromReaders. See you there, friends! :)

[Photos via We Heart It]

Wise Words From Readers: On dream vacations…

Nothing says bye-bye to vacations like the end of the summer. Life — or at least the lazy kind — is over for awhile and we’re faced with our old routines. But who says that we can’t daydream? I’m a firm believer in the notion that a little vacation fantasizing never hurt anyone. At the very least, I figure it’ll be a good antidote to the impending winter doldrums. And it looks like you all agreed with me…

*Cruising! Any cruise, but my dream cruise is a river cruise in Europe! On my Bucket List!

*Disney World at Christmas time — Mickey Mouse and the Christmas parade on Main Street Disney, Contemporary Hotel — with my family.

*Beach house, lots of family, best friends and all my animals!

*Cabin in Yosemite for one week.

*Just one? One of those coral atolls, scuba gear and scientist Sylvia Earle sharing a research project with us.

All these vacation spots sound so relaxing! I’m half Swedish, so I’d love to visit Sweden someday and learn about my heritage. I’d probably end up eating my weight in meatballs, but that’s OK. Or, I’d love to go back to New York City — in fact, I’ll probably be joining my mom on her Big Apple adventures next summer! Looking forward to it already! Anyway, here’s next week’s question…

What’s your favorite part of fall? Do you have a favorite fall memory? What are you most looking forward to this year?

Visit So About What I Said on Facebook and Twitter to share your smarts — and don’t forget to use hashtag #WiseWordsFromReaders. See you there, friends! :)

[Photos via We Heart It]