Julie Williams has spent the last stretch of Days of Our Lives trying to rebuild her life after losing Doug. Julie threw herself into running Book Club in Horton Town Square, partnered with Sweet Bits, and slowly started reclaiming the spark people associate with her. As Julie prepares for things to go sideways, as they often do in Salem, her portrayer, Susan Seaforth Hayes, shared some deeply personal advice about kindness, aging, love, and the things she wishes she had learned sooner.
Key Takeaways
- Susan Seaforth Hayes encouraged women to remember they are “better than you think you are.”
- She said kindness, intelligence, and heart matter more than beauty or strength.
- She urged women to “cultivate your mind” and “cultivate your kindness.”
- Hayes reflected that she wishes she had learned more and said “I love you” more often.
- DAYS castmates and fans flooded the comments praising Hayes’ wisdom and warmth.
Advice She Wishes She Learned Earlier
Hayes spoke with Stowers on her Instagram page as part of the Women to Women series, and the entire conversation felt like getting life advice from somebody who has actually lived enough to know what matters. Asked what wisdom she would give young women, Hayes immediately responded, “Remember you’re better than you think you are.” She went on to explain that beauty and strength eventually fade, but “the brain lasts longer than the beauty” and “the heart lasts all the time.”
What made the conversation hit home was how direct she stayed about it. Hayes encouraged women to “cultivate your kindness” and “cultivate your mind,” while reminding them they could absolutely be “beautiful and smart.”
She reflected honestly on a very long life and tried to hand younger women the things she wished somebody had handed her sooner.
Then came the line that probably hit every longtime DAYS fan directly in the chest. Hayes admitted, “I wish I’d learned more. I wish I’d thought things through more. And I wish I’d said, ‘I love you’ more.” That kind of honesty carries a different weight coming from somebody who has spent decades growing up alongside viewers in their living rooms.
READ THIS: Take a look at the sparks and shockers ahead on DAYS.
Fans Completely Melted Over the Interview
Stowers was visibly emotional by the end of the conversation, telling Hayes, “My heart is just so full right now.” The comments immediately filled up with viewers and castmates reacting like somebody had just handed the internet a warm, emotional support blanket with lipstick and Horton family wisdom attached.
Costar Abigail Klein (Stephanie) wrote, “Endless gems🙌,” to which Stowers responded, “@abigailklein_ 📝💖.” DAYS newcomer, Vico Escorcia, lovingly commented, “Ahhhhhh 😍😍😍😍.” And Raven Bowens (Chanel) chimed in with, “Love her soooo bad!” and Stowers couldn’t help but respond, @imravenbowens same sis same!!! She’s the best 💖.”
A fan praised Hayes as “Beautiful inside & out 💖💖,” while one follower summed up the entire mood perfectly with, “Oh, I love everything she said!!!!😍” And really, after listening to Hayes calmly dismantle everybody’s emotional defenses for two straight minutes, there was probably not much else left to say.
