“I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.” ~ Sara Teasdale
I saw this quote this morning on Twitter and it has had me thinking all day about what we value and discount in our lives. Why is it that when something or someone exits our lives, we go through (an often extensive) mourning period? We tell ourselves things like “Why did I lose that opportunity?” or “Why didn’t this something I really wanted work out the way I planned?”
And then these little blessings show up in our lives and we often don’t pause to give thanks nor does that surprise appearance of someone or something cause us an extensive period of joy and happiness. Before you know it, new worries, concerns, and fears overcome the joy we felt very briefly. How do we re-balance ourselves in line with Sara Teasdale’s sentiment?
New Yorkers have to accept a few inevitable events in life. Some are positive like the glee brought on by the first moment of springtime weather that sends us in droves to parks and sidewalk cafes. Some are negative like the all-too-often sour smell in the subway. And one that I always used to dread was a good friend moving away. People come in and out of New York constantly. If you live in New York long enough, eventually someone you love spending time with will move to another city. It’s just the way it goes here.
I’ve moved back to New York 3 times now. On this go-around, I’ve been back almost two years, and in that time I’ve had half a dozen friends move away. I lamented losing every one. I would go through a period of real sadness when saying good-bye to each one. And then I began to notice that every time one left, another friend arrived. It was almost freakish the way it happened. And I only noticed it in retrospective. I was so busy feeling sad about my friends leaving that I didn’t give a proper amount of joy to my friends who were arriving.
And this quote got me thinking about how many other times have I done this in my life. When someone or something leaves us, it makes way for someone or something new to come into our lives. How much more joyful could we be if we gave thanks for change, for its mystery, for the comings and goings that keep our lives fresh and exciting?
Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
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Christa Avampato 