Jo
“Being available for my daughter is a big part of my identity as a woman. We talk a lot about life, the big and small issues. I tell her my stories and now she is creating her own.”
Jo sees the colour and beauty in everything. This creative drive inspires her every move, and has led her to a career as a freelance stylist. Jo seeks empowerment in community and connection, through conversation and togetherness. But she has also discovered her own strength through isolation. Meet Jo. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself!
J: Hi I’m Jo McComiskey
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
J: I’m a creative – effortless with colour, style and design in any medium… hopeless at adding up on demand and slightly directionally challenged. I love beautiful cushions, dancing, a cracking AFL game, strong tea and have probably far too many feelings than is completely necessary. I started out as an art teacher in Sydney which morphed into art direction for lifestyle glossy magazines, freelance styling for photoshoots and finally creative direction for my own Melbourne bed linen business. A creative project of any kind gives me the tingles.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
J: Bringing something to life – anything from designing marketing material to styling products for photoshoots or simply knitting one VERY complicated cable stitch sock ( why does there have to be two of everything?!)
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
J: A few years ago I hit an all-time low. My marriage and life in general was woeful. I’d been living in my adopted city for 15 yrs as a sad square peg in a round hole - I had left my heart on our doorstep 15 yrs ago when we moved states. Loneliness can be soul destroying, if you let it consume you. Fortunately I managed to drag myself off the sofa and kick that aching hole to the kerb with the onset of covid. Ridiculously, isolation helped me find what I was looking for - a sense of belonging. Always my Achilles heel.
Community is a wonderful thing and when it’s threatened there is nothing better than a ‘socially distanced’ walk in the park. Smiling, nodding, talking to strangers, ruffling dogs ears. Old school stuff. Magic. I now have a healthy work/life balance, lovely new friends and a spring in my step
P: What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
J: Take time with relationships.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
J: Being available for my daughter is a big part of my identity as a woman. We talk a lot about life, the big and small issues. I tell her my stories and now she is creating her own.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
J: I would give anything to have time with my mother again, she died far too young and I miss what could have been. What would I say? Oh god there would be too many tears to get any words out.