Jessie Ann Elliott - The Love and Purpose Project (2025)

28/01/2023

I’ve been going through all my 90 Emotional Day posts, and backing them up on my blog.

This process has taken me right back to the beginning of my nearly 12 month journey as a Mum of two.

And whilst I still have some to upload, it has been bloody wonderful!

I can still feel every once of emotion I was experiencing when I posted.

I am so grateful to myself for taking the time to document this transition, and the development of my relationship not just with my daughter, but with myself.

Are you transported back to the past when you look at old photos?

Image: I am sitting down on my lounge with a coffee. In front of me is mt laptop with over 20 images from my 90 Emotional Days project. In the background is tubs with toys, and some on the ground.

22/01/2023

Something that we know to be true right now is that when it comes to our ageing population, mental ill health is under-identified by health care professionals and by older people themselves. The stigma around these conditions make people reluctant to seek help (WHO). We also know that risk factors associated with depression in older age include social isolation, and feelings of loss that could be associated with work, an income and self worth (among other things) (Beyond Blue).

And yet, when I Google ‘planning for retirement’, money and a focus on Superannuation is the ONE AND ONLY consideration I see shown to me.

Ok. So I am only slightly exaggerating. I found ONE article that attempted to talk to the transition in terms of its impact on your mental health. BUT, I saw nothing in the top few links that encouraged a wider, and more nuanced discussion on this. And, who in the general population will keep going down the rabbit hole?

With all that in mind (and knowing that the stigma associated with mental ill health is continuing to decrease for all generations), I want to share with you some things I am ‘investing’ in now; in anticipation of the transition to retirement from ‘paid work’ in years to come.

My investment into my retirement looks like this (full disclosure, this is not an exhaustive list, but it is a conversation starter).

✨ I am investing in my interpersonal relationships (including care work)
✨ I am investing in a holistic self concept that doesn’t hinge on a job title
✨ I am investing in unlearning that presence, leisure and rest are not productive or necessary

What do you think? What are you investing in for your retirement?

14/01/2023

My baby girl will be a whole one year old next month.

✨

The last 12 months has been an absolute whirlwind. Some dizzying highs, and bone aching lows (or was that just the fatigue from a tough winter of sickness?).

In this time though I have not only created memories. The maker in me was also well truly celebrated and bought into the front seat of the road trip that is my life.

Nothing felt out of my reach or outside of my capacities (ok so MINOR things felt out of my reach, but not much lol). I just said ‘yes’ and decided to work the ‘how’ out on the way.

💗 I co-authored a picture book, and solo wrote two more.

💗 I started a creative business as not only a photographer and digital collage artist, but a content creator and copywriter.

I followed my Sparkle and I am so so glad I just got out of my own way and let myself play.

Sooooo

In celebration of not only my baby girls birthday but MY birthday as a Mum of two, I want to share something else.

✨ My Fourth Trimester Creativity Plan ✨

A resource on how to manage stress and be you throughout your experience of the Fourth Trimester.

BUT let me pause here for a second, this resource does not replace the incredibly crucial planning you would do with a Postpartum Doula, or your care team. What it does is compliment. It pulls together my own lived experience of planning for creative expression as a tool for healing, stress relief and play. It also pulls from my experience as a holistic counsellor and meditation therapist.

So basically, I am very excited for my birthday, and to share this piece of my life with the world 😊.

Do you want to be one of the first to know when this resource is available?

29/11/2022

So yes I have been a bit quiet on this platform lately.

To be honest, I have fallen deeply in love with the other one (you know, the photo sharing one ha ha); and really neglected this space. I am SO sorry for all the beautiful people who follow me here and haven’t known I’ve been away sharing loads over on the other one.

I guess I wanted to jump back into this space today because I have created something I am so so incredibly proud of.

A friend and I have written a Children’s Picture Book.

This story has been inspired by both of our experiences of Postnatal Depression and Anxiety; and in our decision to find the magic in the everyday.

Whilst the manuscript is complete, and we have poured countless hours into this project already, we need some help paying for Illustrations (approximately $6,000). So we are currently running a Kickstarter Campaign (crowd funding but for creative projects) to try and help us bring this beautiful message to the world.

If you would like to know more, I will pop some information below.

If you felt like sharing this, I would also be ever so grateful. Every little bit of help sharing this message or contributing to this Kickstarter, brings this book closer to being in the world.

Oh. And she is called.

‘The Mum Who Found Her Sparkle’.

Image: me sitting down with my daughter in my lap. We are at a local market. We are both smiling at the camera.

18/09/2022

‘Capitalism has asked us to idolize labour and demonize play, pleasure, joy, rest.’

Said by the incredible on IG.

And isn’t this something that so many of us can relate to? Or relate to in the past?

The beliefs I had around this became so so obvious after becoming a Mother and struggling to reconcile that the unpaid care work I was doing WAS work. But also, that it was incredibly important for me to prioritise doing the things that made me feel good.
And that DID NOT always include what our culture would deem ‘productive’.

This is a photo of me and my daughter out the front of our house yesterday. Having a giggle and play whilst big brother played with our neighbour’s kids.

These are the moments my little ones will remember, and I am feeling less and less guilt about allowing myself to engage fully in these moments as well (without feeling the instant need to go clean something or work).

How was your weekend? Did you get to do things that bought you joy?

24/08/2022

So I’ve been a bit quite on here.

I’ve been over on my Instagram having all the fun making reels;

But also,

Co-authoring a Children’s Picture Book!

😱😱😱.

My wonderful friend, aka co-author and I got people’s support to name her. Check it out 👇

✨ The Mum Who Found Her Sparkle ✨

She even has her own IG!

We are currently in discussions with some Illustrators, then it’s straight to KickStarter to help us fund some of the associated costs 🤍🤍.

YOU can get involved yourself over at our IG. Would looove to see you there he he.

And as always, if you want to check out the fun I have making Reels, head over to the IG version of this page 🤍🤍🤍

03/07/2022

We’ve been selected!!!

Ahhhhhh!

I got an email over the weekend that made me cry happy tears.

This image has been selected to be one of the 43 photographs in the Hunter New England Local Health District Breastfeeding Photography Exhibition ‘Breastfeeding through the first 2000 days’.

Our photo is going to be displayed from August to December this year at John Hunter Hospital, before touring other hospitals across the district.

AND then it will find its permanent home at one of the maternity units in our region.

I am just so bloody honoured to be a part of this project celebrating breastfeeding (you all know how obsessed I am lol).

And also, photo credit to my Mum. Couldn’t have done it without ya! He he.

Watch this space for an incredibly joyful image of us WITH our image at JHH at the opening!

Might also share an image of our celebratory lunch that will happen after he he.

Image: wall art in the background of a red, yellow and black butterfly. I am standing against it, breastfeeding Miss E. I am looking down at Mr F.

29/06/2022

We were running through the shopping centre on Monday.

Like actually running. Not for any particular reason, just because Mr F thought it would be fun.

So we did it. Miss E in tow in the stroller. Smiling away.

But this stopped us in our tracks. We ran past it, then quickly did a double back.

We had no where in particular to be, so we stopped. We gushed. We fell in love with the characters. We were in awe at the colours. We both smiled. We snapped a photo.

I feel like this should be a mantra now? Don’t rush through life so hard that you can’t stop and look at the smiling emu? He he.

What do you think?

Image: Mr F looking at vibrant emus, lions, dogs and a turtle

17/06/2022

I heard in my head:
‘Exit the hierarchy for him’.
I had no idea where this voice had come from. It was matter of fact. It was direct. There was no fluff and giggle. It felt like an order.
And yet.
I did nothing at first. I continued as I was.

….

This is an excerpt from my book.

YES I JUST SAID THAT!

I let my mailing list know on hump day this week that I have said yes to officially writing about my story more broadly than on my socials and blog.
Ahhhhh!

So whilst I am excited, I am also realistic in the sense that this will be a longer term task. Not a quick win. And I’m ok with it. This will be one of my bigger projects over the next 12 months.

BUT I wanted to tell you, because I want to INVOLVE you! I want to ask you questions and have your experiences weaved into its pages. I think we can all add value together.

Do you think you might know what my core message will be about? DM me or comment below.

If you haven’t already, jump on my mailing list to make sure you are in allll the places I will be asking people for contributions. Head to the link in my bio and scroll allllll the way down to the bottom.

Image: visually representing my sliding doors moment (when I said yes to it finally). One the right side, the thunder denotes things feeling scary and dark. The left side denotes growth, joy and honouring my needs when I can.

16/06/2022

I have not stopped thinking about this!

Last Friday night, I had my first solo parenting night with the two babes (many of you will know as you were following along in my stories lol).

I had been anxious about it at first, but then decided that I was going to make it fun and different to our normal dinner, shower and bedtime routine.

I asked Mr F if he wanted to get pizza delivered (huge yes) and watch movies in Mummy Daddy’s big bed (huge yes).

So that’s what we did. It went off without a hitch. It was fun. I was calm. I’d do it again happily.

But there was something that happened that made my heart happier than I could have imagined.

When we heard the door knock with our pizza. We both ran down the hallway excitedly yelling ‘PIZZA’!
When I opened the door, a young guy was holding our pizza with the biggest smile on his face.

‘HI! I said joyfully. ‘We are so excited to have pizza tonight’.

And then, he got in on the fun.

‘I’m here to deliver your pizza! Here it is’. He said with the biggest, most genuine grin on his face.

I smiled even more. Mr F was ecstatic!

We took it excitedly then closed the door and ran back down the hallway squealing with joy.

I hope this young fella knew how much unexpected joy he added to our night. I hope he knows this little boy would remember this forever.

And I hope we brightened his night a little too.

This reinforced to me that making things magic for us, can also spread the magic to others.

And it is inspiring me even more to lean in to play, curiosity, spontaneity, childlike wonder and joy.

Do you have memories of these types of people when you were growing up? Or have you been this type of person to a little one (that wasn’t your own), and how did it make you feel?

Image: Mr F eating a slice of pizza with toys in the background.

16/06/2022

How fun, that I met me, the day I met you.

Thanks for the introduction baby boy!

14/06/2022

We did the yo-yo bed sleep game last night.

No, it wasn’t fun.

One struggling to find sleep until 11pm.

One struggling to find sleep after 1am.

Everyone up at 4.30am.

Rough.

‘Mummy’ was said more times that I can count. I struggled to maintain calm in my voice after the millionth time ‘yes mate, I’m here’.

He was being held. He was being cuddled. He was being reassured.

It was what it was.

He wasn’t sick.

Likely he was processing some big things; seeing me really sick on Monday and being away from me for an entire day yesterday(which he actually hadn’t had to do for quite a few weeks).

Miss E is likely teething and experiencing the Four Month Sleep Progression. And probably a leap.

It will be one of those nights that go down in the history of our family as sucky AF.

But amongst it all, I know it’s completely normal.

I mean damn, I still need a meditation in my ears to fall asleep most nights; and I sleep better knowing Mitch is near me.

So.

I’m up.

I’m functioning.

Only just.

Would I do it all over again in the same way?

Hell yes.

Sending love to you if you are a tired AF parent. Damn you are doing a great job!! Please know every step you make is changing the world!

Image: visually representing the whip lash we felt last night in going back and forth between babes 🤦🏼‍♀️.

10/06/2022

So what does it mean to write?
It means to heal.
It means to express.

It means everything.

Friday musings in amongst sick babies and a messy house.

What does writing mean to you?

Image: yellow background with an outline of a person with long hair writing in a notebook. Pink butterflies fly up and away from the pen.

07/06/2022

Dear Canva,

I wonder if you know how much you saved my life?

How much you helped me further develop my language of expression. How you invited back 14 year old collaging me to my conscious experience.

You bought me home.

Through you I could quickly and easily access a creative practice with one hand whilst sleep deprived from a newborn and toddler. Whilst being nap trapped or sitting in the car for just a few more moments with both babies asleep.

You helped me visually process and share my experience when I couldn’t find the words; and you continue to. You gave me access to play in a whole new way.

You helped me not just survive but thrive in the Fourth Trimester.

Thank you. A million times thank you

for saving my life.

Canva

01/06/2022

I recently watched the video of Abby Wambach deliver the commencement address at Loyola Marymount University.

This speech was everything. I had chills all over my body the entire time and when I watched it a second time, tears filled my eyes.

What stuck out to me the most was her encouragement of each of us to change our OWN world. We can get caught up in thinking everything is too broken to start to influence change. But we can. We can look at ‘the tables we get to sit at’ as a place to start to make a difference.

I grew up with a huge lack of self confidence. I didn’t love who I was, firstly because I didn’t see myself in any of the magazines I picked up or the shows I watched. I was short, a bit overweight, with big hair and a love for collaging, making funny videos and writing. I didn’t feel like I fit anywhere which impacted my ability to make meaningful connections with others as well as show deep compassion for myself.

So in going back to Abby’s speech, I can not only continue to fall deeply in love with myself (and embrace these things that I loved to do as a kid), but I can do my best to encourage this love of self in my children. Encourage them to follow what lights them up. Show them what it looks like to care for and listen to others.

And find the courage to speak up, with my own voice, not behind a role and an organisation (check out my ‘About’ section on my website for context on this one lol).

So, as I continue to work out what my activism looks like here in my little corner of the internet, here is a picture of me showing myself the love I desperately wanted as a little one.

Love you little Jess, I love everything that you are. Let’s continue to influence change 🤍🤍🤍.

Image: black and white photo of me with red and pink flowers shooting up from behind my head and out of the frame.

01/06/2022

I wonder what I would be able to say to my own great grand-grandchildren when I am 87?

Will I be able to say I lived a life that I was proud of?
That I had no regrets?

Would I be able to say that I made my own path?

Despite the stories that surrounded me about what I ‘should’ do?

When I have asked my Mumma whether she had any regrets she has said no. But I wonder, when we are sitting there reflecting on our life, and things we cannot change, is it easier to embrace everything as ‘just as it should have been’. Is it easier to accept than agonise?

And so, is that also a reinforcement of a lesson for me right now? There are things in my life I have done that I cannot change, yet they are. Whether you are 35 or 87, this is still true. What I have done wrong in my life does not define who I am. They are actions I took, with the best information I had at the time; in the headspace I was in. I repair where I can. I do better when I can.

But also, what WOULD I hope to say to my great grandchildren should this opportunity arise?
Perhaps it would go a little like this:

You are magnificent just as you are. You do not need to pay anyone a ridiculous amount of money to ‘fix’ you. However, investing in your own healing is absolutely worth while; you will know what you need.

Don’t buy in to the myth of the perfect mother.

You are innately creative. Everything you do and are is an expression of you. Honour that, prioritise that.

Fight for your own voice, as well as those who cannot find their own. Learn to listen.

Rest when you need it.

Say sorry when you need to, and mean it.

What would you tell your great grandchildren?

Image One: my Mumma and my daughter. The image is a focused on their hands touching.

Image Two: my Mumma and daughter smiling at each other. In both photos they are both wearing pink jumpers.

26/05/2022

Yesterday on my 35th birthday, I gifted myself something I never thought I would have had the courage to do.

I submitted my 90 Emotional Days project to the The Brenda Clouten Memorial Scholarship.

An ART scholarship!!

I know right!! Ahhhhh!

Sure I have submitted my writing to publications and been published before (Elephant Journal he he); but this was a new level of vulnerability.

However, this is not about having attachment to winning this scholarship or having this project favourably critiqued. This is about showing the vulnerable creative inside of me that I believe in her. It’s about thanking my creativity for helping me process my Fourth Trimester and manage my stress and anxiety;

So really, I’ve already won ✨🌟🦄.

Congratulations to me! He he he.

Also, thank you to all the beautiful humans who wished me Happy Birthday yesterday! It was an absolutely glorious day!! 🤍

Image: I am looking at the camera smiling with my hair out. I am wearing a rainbow jumper.

25/05/2022

If I know anything to be true, it’s that in our experience of modern Motherhood, we need to think outside the box for where our Village can come from. We can’t always draw from the same places our mothers before us drew from.

On Friday of last week, I had the absolute pleasure of meeting a very dear online friend, who is now an ACTUAL in person friend!

This woman has been an incredible emotional support and friend to me over the last 8 months in particular.

This woman has held space for me, laughed with me, shared inspiration and offered advice whenever I have asked.

When I opened the door to her on Friday, it was like I was welcoming back an old friend who had been in my house many times. Someone who had shared many laughs and tears over coffee. Someone who I have known my entire life.

The day after our inside dinner picnic, Mr F disappeared in the morning to go re light my (battery operated) candles (cause no way had I packed it away from the night before - who has time for that!). He hasn’t stopped talking about his new friends!

Thank you for being you Mary!

Jessie Ann Elliott - The Love and Purpose Project

28/01/2023

22/01/2023

14/01/2023

29/11/2022

18/09/2022

24/08/2022

03/07/2022

29/06/2022

17/06/2022

16/06/2022

16/06/2022

14/06/2022

10/06/2022

07/06/2022

01/06/2022

01/06/2022

26/05/2022

25/05/2022

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