Come home to yourself with our mindful journal & coloring book from Bless The Messy
In honor of Pride, we’ve partnered with Queer artist and author, Jess Bird of Bless The Messy, and PFLAG to bring you affirmation stickers and a free printable journal for mindful coloring and reflection.
Most of us think of Pride in full color. We see it as a celebration of self and an ode to love without limits. But it’s not all rainbows and sparkles.
The truth is that Pride can often feel complex for those in the LGBTQ+ community. Living authentically and visibly can be scary, and even compromise people’s wellbeing. And yet, there’s still joy to be found.
We’re here to acknowledge the challenges as well as to celebrate the strength, authenticity and individuality of the LGBTQ+ community. This inspired our recent collaboration with Queer artist and author, Jess Bird of Bless the Messy, and PFLAG — an organization working to create a caring, just, and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people.
Behind The Rainbow: A Mindful Journal & Coloring Book
“Behind The Rainbow” is a mindfulness journal and coloring book Jess Bird of Bless The Messy has created in partnership with Calm. It’s been designed to help you to check in with yourself during the month of Pride and beyond.
“I hope it serves as a reminder that your mental wellbeing is important and worth investing in,” says Jess. “While you’re exploring its pages, I invite you to stay mindful, remain present, and ultimately feel at home in yourself.”
How to use the mindful activity book and journal
Download it here, print it out then carve out some time for yourself. Use the journal prompts to connect with your authentic self, and peel back the layers that lie beneath the surface. Then bring some nuance to the black and white pages with whichever colors of the rainbow you’re drawn towards. Notice what arises in your body and mind as you reflect and color.
We recommend you download and open the journal in your favorite PDF viewer in order to get the best interactive experience! Of course, you can also print and write by hand if that’s more your style.
Queer Minds Belong
We’ve also partnered with PFLAG (an organization working to create a caring, just, and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people) to create a campaign that reinforces belonging, and affirms our pride in the resilience of the Queer community.
Illustrated by Queer artist and author Jess Bird (@blessthemessy) we’ll release custom “digital” affirmation artwork to share with friends, family, and allies in your DMs, chats, and via social, which you can download here. You can also grab this artwork (which will be shared as stickers) at Pride Parades across the US (wherever a local PFLAG chapter is a present).
Jess Bird (they/she)
Jess Bird is a self-taught artist and illustrator, making magic in her hometown of Rochester, NY. She 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.
Exposing herself as a messy, in-process human figuring it out, she uses her illustrations to convey what she’s learning, how she’s feeling, and how she moves through the world around her. Her hope is that people feel seen, validated, and less alone. She started Bless the Messy 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’s studio, Luna Cooperative, is an inclusive co-working, classroom, shop, and safe space for anyone seeking a fortress for rest, healing, and love.
Mental health is hard. Getting support doesn't have to be. The Calm app puts the tools to feel better in your back pocket, with personalized content to manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life. Calm your mind. Change the world.
