How would you describe Jo D Livingston?
I am a kind-hearted fiercely feminine woman. I am very girly, but I am strong and I stand up for what I love and believe in.
What was your childhood like?
I grew up in Vermont, a very small town. It was a great place to grow up. When we were kids we loved playing in the woods. We created a whole “palace” from the rock formations. It was pretty magical.
You got a second chance at life after getting a liver transplant. Tell us about this ‘life changing’ experience?
Having an organ transplant from a deceased donor is pretty overwhelming. That someone chose to become an organ donor saved my life. In a family’s saddest moments, losing their loved one, they chose to honor this wish. It is pretty special to say the least. I am forever grateful to my donor and his family.
How did that whole experience impact your view on life?
For sure, I came out of being so ill that we were making hospice plans, to receiving a new liver. I certainly don’t sweat the small things the way I used to. I actually don’t sweat large things very much. I have a new feeling of peace. I used to spend so much time and energy worrying about things beyond my control. I spend this time and energy now on trying to make my world a better place…through my joyful art and my work with abused and neglected children.
You created ‘Creating Jo Deb’ following your spirit during your second chance at life. Tell us about this new creation?
Creating Jo Deb is my journey creating joyful art from my grateful heart. I love florals, beaches and the ocean, a bit whimsy. My art has color and is happy. I mostly paint with watercolors. I love the flow and beautiful blending of pigments that you can get with watercolor. I have begun to paint with acrylics as well. This is allowing more creativity to flow! I like to say that when I made the decision to become a full-time artist it was like I put on a pair of glasses and the world came into focus for me. It truly is like this. I have found my place in the world. It is truly what I am meant to be doing.
What was your career journey prior to this?
Prior to becoming ill, I worked in the financial services industry.
Why did you give it all up to pursue your creative side?
It was a very stressful environment. I thought I liked it at the time, but looking back, it was not something I wanted to go back to. After my transplant, I felt this profound need to do something special with the second chance I had been given. During the pandemic, I began painting and gave my paints as gifts to friends and family. Everyone would tell me I should sell my art. I found an amazing mentor, and took the leap! I could not be more pleased with this path. I feel at home, at peace, so happy now. I have the greatest Collectors. I cherish each and every one of them. I am honoured to have my art give someone else some joy.
You’re also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) representing abused and neglected children in court. How did you get into that?
I became a CASA after my transplant. It had always been something I wanted to do, but never felt I had the time to give to it. I NEEDED to make time for it. The organization provides extensive training for all CASA’s. It truly is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I am helping to give voice to the most vulnerable of our community, abused and neglected children. I get to make a difference in the lives of the children, and the families overall. It is so special. I highly encourage anyone to seek out their state CASA chapter (I believe only in the U.S.). I am also happy to speak with any of your readers if they wish to know more about becoming a CASA.
You completed an Ironman triathlon. That requires all levels of toughness – spiritual, mental and physical. Tell us about the experience and why you went for it?
Wow! Just wow. Ironman is very much a large looming moment for me. I had done some marathons and really loved the experience of training so hard and then race day being so satisfying. A friend of ours was our trainer and he was an Ironman. He was the force that pushed me down the triathlon road. I LOVED it. Training for an Ironman is SO HARD. But race day was AMAZING. I was happy all day. I loved the energy around me. I loved the crowd cheering us on. I loved all the encouragement amongst triathletes. It was very special.
Did you at any time feel like giving up?
During training, I definitely felt like giving up, many times. It was very hard, I won’t sugar coat it. The time that went into the training…it was all I did, for eight months. I had great training partners though. We would lift each other up on days that were harder than others.
I would say that getting to the end of training was because I wanted to show my children that my hard work was achieving something. They were 12 and 7 at the time. I missed a lot of time with them while training. My family was very supportive and I didn’t want to disappoint them.
As for race day, the race was very difficult but I never once, for even one second, thought about giving up. I was filled with so much positive energy from the day, it propelled me to get to the finish line.
Many women might be thinking that it is impossible for them for whatever reason. What can you say to them to inspire them to take on the challenge?
While Ironman might not be for everyone, I would HIGHLY encourage all women to take on challenges that they might feel are out of reach. The work that goes into achieving difficult goals can be daunting for sure. I feel that we learn so much from such times in our lives though. I feel we can inspire those around us by taking on difficult tasks. Most importantly, when you achieve a high reaching goal for yourself, the feeling of accomplishment is SUPER powerful. You can then say, “what’s next?”. Challenges can lead to so much growth in our lives.
What, in your opinion, stops women from pursuing their inner calling?
I think as women, we have so many external pressures of what others need from us. I think women tend to put their own needs and desires last. Taking time to accomplish something for ourselves does not take priority. What I would say about that is when we achieve, when we strive, when we invest time in our own endeavours, I think we become better. Better people, better partners, better parents, better friends… Our lives being richer from experiences we have accomplished enriches the lives of those around us.
You are quite fearless. Apart from the above, is there any other challenging experience you have had?
I am very proud of my marriage. We have been married for 27 years and have been through many difficult times. We have had financial ruin, living in my father’s attic with a baby. We had infertility for our second child. We have faced family traumas that have been very overwhelming. The death of my sister and my stepfather were dark times for my family. Obviously the health challenges were quite stressful.
We have honoured our commitment to each other though. I am amazed sometimes that we are still in it together. Marriage is hard in the hard times…it is work. For us to have made it through so many challenging times, I am proud.
As a high achieving woman, how do you balance life and work?
I know this can be so difficult, for many, if not most, women. I don’t think I have a magic answer for this. For me, my studio is in my home. This gives me the ability to work whenever I need (really want) to. I am also my own boss now, so I can schedule my time to fit around family and life. There are times when I do have to set some boundaries with my time, if I have a deadline. For sure this can be challenging. If I was giving advice, I would go back to reminding others that taking time for yourself and your family is very important for you to be better for work. Sounds easy, but I know it is not.
Do you have a life mantra?
Here she comes. This is for sure my mantra. Look out world, she is COMING. She is going to do things, make things, help things. Here she comes.
What future do you envision for women?
First, as a woman, I know how darn STRONG we are. We are powerful. I feel the future is all about women. Women are amazing, and I think the world is at the beginning of truly understanding this. Here in the U.S. we have more and more women in leadership roles, whether in business, or lawmakers, or higher education. Like I said above: Here she comes.
If you were to meet your fourteen-year-old self, what advice would you give her?
This is a good one! I think I would tell her to try to not worry so much about what people think of her. I would tell her how amazing she is. I don’t know if she knew that. I would tell her to love life and enjoy the journey, you have great things ahead.
What, in your opinion, makes a stellar woman?
A stellar woman is confident in herself. A stellar woman picks herself up after disappointment with the ability to learn from it. A stellar woman believes the world is inherently a good place and works toward making it even better. A stellar woman has goals that she strives to achieve.
If you had to add something to your life to make you feel more stellar, what would it be?
I would love to personally meet the family of my donor. I want to know them and make sure they can see how profound the choice of organ donation can be. I would love to share with them how my life has grown exponentially from this gift. I think this would be the crowning jewel for making my life more stellar.
Please leave one challenge for the Stellar Woman Magazine readers to make them live a stellar life?
I would challenge your reader to find something that brings them joy and to do more of it. The gifts from this are powerful. It is good for mind, body and soul. This makes us better women. Find your joy.