My friend, Josh, over at World’s Strongest Librarian wrote a post that is so beautiful and profound that I had to share it here. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it all day. He talked about the defining moments of his life in terms of when they happened, how he felt about them, and what they meant to him. It’s a form that I love so much that I created my own snapshots of when. So many thanks to Josh for inspiring my writing and my life. Here goes…
When I first saw my niece, I realized why it was so important to have children in our lives.
When my heart broke, I realized that it didn’t take as long to heal and love again as I thought it would.
When he passed away, I didn’t feel as relieved as I thought I would – it was then that I started down the very long path to forgiveness.
When I crossed that finish line, realizing a dream years in the making, I was more grateful for the strength of my body than ever before.
When I decided to keep loving through the hurt, I realized that on the other side there was more love.
When I graduated, I knew at that moment that I could do anything I set my mind to.
When I looked out at the wild surf of South Africa, I realized that I had traveled very far from home and still felt like I belonged.
When I stood in front of a classroom for the first time, I had much more to offer than I ever expected.
When I chased a dream as far as I could and it still wasn’t enough to make it real, I was amazed at my resilience to just get a new dream.
When I said a final good-bye to my dear and faithful friend, I found that not everything or everyone is replaceable. Some parts of our lives and hearts can never be reclaimed, and that’s okay.
When I first put my writing out into the world for everyone to see, I found that there was a lot more support for my ideas that I ever knew and much of that support came from people I didn’t even know.
When the curtain came down and I heard the applause, I knew I had been part of something much greater than myself.
When I almost didn’t get a tomorrow, I understood how precious every moment is and that dreams can’t wait.
When I lost almost all of my belongings, I found that I didn’t really need any of them to survive and thrive and for the first time in my life I felt truly free.
When I found the courage to tell my own story, I discovered that I had the ability to inspire the same courage in others.
The image above is not my own. It can be found here.
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.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
My friend, Josh, over at World’s Strongest Librarian wrote a post that is so beautiful and profound that I had to share it here. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it all day. He talked about the defining moments of his life in terms of when they happened, how he felt about them, and what they meant to him. It’s a form that I love so much that I created my own snapshots of when. So many thanks to Josh for inspiring my writing and my life. Here goes…
Christa Avampato 
Very nice….let me ask you something..is there anyone you would never forgive?
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Thanks runner52. I think I'd have a hard time forgiving someone who didn't care about being forgiven. How about you?
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If they didn't want to be forgiven, then I probably would not be in contact with them…..just wondering how far back people are willing to go to forgive someone
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Awesome. If the only thing that came out of my post was your post getting written, that's a big win.
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Josh! Your post has inspired so many people over on Owning Pink that it is going to appear as a Monday Morning exercise on the main site. I'll send you the link when it's up. Your Moments of When is truly one of the most beautiful, moving pieces I've ever read. Thank you so much for sharing it! You have inspired so many!
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