Bless the Messy: Life Lessons from a Work in Progress

For readers of Hyperbole and a Half and Am I There Yet?, Bless the Messy is a compassionate, distinctive, and voice-driven illustrated personal growth book, one that gives readers permission to radically love themselves, feel their feelings, and live with joy even as--especially as--they may fumble through major life moments, or feel othered by society’s narrow norms.

Supreme moments of beauty and joy can be found in the mess. Jess Bird is living proof of that. As a queer woman who received a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis, Jess is raising her kids in a blended family, rewriting the rules as she goes along. Far from being an expert or perfect, she embraces her imperfections and invites you to do the same. By sharing her messy, in-process journey, Jess hopes to connect with those who feel isolated or oppressed by society’s narrow norms, making them feel seen and validated.

In this illustrated personal growth book, Jess combines self-reflection, encouragement, and practical guidance. She delves into her struggles and triumphs, offering insights on growing through trauma and healing, breaking free from societal expectations, setting boundaries, redefining home and chosen family, finding self-worth, and embracing anti-perfectionism. The mantra ＂Bless the Messy＂ runs through it all, reminding us that every emotion, even the uncomfortable ones, is valid and valuable.

Bright, hopeful, real, and raw, Bless the Messy is a warm hug of a book that will make you feel a little less alone.

Jess Bird is a self-taught artist and illustrator, making magic in her hometown of Rochester, New York. Her work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Tonight, Yoga Journal, and VICE, and she was named one of Marie Claire’s top twenty-one creators to watch in 2022. Jess is a highly sought-after artist, particularly for content creation related to pride and mental health awareness, and she has partnered with a wide range of brands, including Madewell, Blundstone, Always, Adobe, Pinterest, Hallmark, Calm, Anthropologie, Yoga Journal, and VICE. Jess started her Instagram and shop Bless the Messy in 2014 in an effort to connect back to herself and others during the darkness of depression. Jess started her business in a closet (both literally and figuratively) and has grown as an artist and human alongside so many of those who have supported her journey, even at a distance. Jess came out as queer in 2017, and also received a late diagnosis of ADHD when she was thirty-one years old. Jess’s art reflects her inclusive values, and she is a vocal advocate for queer and trans rights, belonging, mental health, and antiracist action. She lives with her family in Rochester, New York.