I’m fascinated with tipping points, those magical pivots when there is a step-change in the way the world operates. Once we cross over them, we can’t ever go back. They assure that progress has been made and will continue. To illustrate some profound tipping points, Brian told me about the idea of the 100th monkey and trees slowly exposed to toxins.
If a tree is slowly exposed to a toxin, it develops an immunity to the toxin. In a strange turn of events that science cannot explain, all trees of that same species develop the immunity even though they haven’t been exposed to the toxin. Somehow the trees communicate – be it through the soil or the air or the water supply. They are all connected.
At some point, a monkey figured out that if he dipped a stick into an ant hill, he could capture more ants to eat. Eventually, enough monkeys learned this trick that it became something that monkeys just knew how to do, from birth, with no training. Again, science has no explanation for this. Monkeys, thousands of miles apart, even on different continents, somehow tap into the greater genius when a certain tipping point of intelligence is reached within the species. It is truly remarkable.
Think of the implications that this kind of uber-intelligence has for us. What kind of world could we have if we could reach a tipping point of kindness, concern, compassion, and love? If our generation could put aside violence and have a restored faith in humanity, what would that mean for the many generations yet to be born? Is saving the world possible simply by enough of us saving ourselves?
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
I’m fascinated with tipping points, those magical pivots when there is a step-change in the way the world operates. Once we cross over them, we can’t ever go back. They assure that progress has been made and will continue. To illustrate some profound tipping points, Brian told me about the idea of the 100th monkey and trees slowly exposed to toxins. 
Christa Avampato 
Many of us in the spiritual/metaphysical/healing/woo-woo community have based our lives on exactly this premise. The whole 2012 thing (the end of the Mayan calender) is all about finally reaching that tipping point when enough people have have saved themselves to save the world. The thinking is that rather than the world literally coming to an end, the world as we know it will come to an end.
This is a post I have written about that “magical” time. http://scottfree2b.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/2b-or-not-2b-changed/
LikeLike
Trish! I love this post about that magical time. How incredible – I love knowing we’re all connected on such a deep level.
LikeLike
This is an amazing thought. I think I read about the monkey one time in National Geographic. The implications are mind-boggeling. Nay-sayers argued that enough monkeys learned the trick individually and taught their progeny, but it doesn’t explain every one of them everywhere absorbing it. I prefer to be the optimist. And the matter of the toxins and the trees supports the uber-intelligence theory. I would imagine that the phenomenon repeats itself in other venues as well. It would be fun to explore it.
LikeLike
PS: maybe this is the reason that humanity has survived — that enough of us have offset the negative and more debased of our own species to make a difference. We’re already exuding the best we have to offer, we just need to step up the pace!
LikeLike
I agree, Mom. I hope in terms out humanity and care for one another that we have reached a tipping point. xoxo
LikeLike
Christa, I love this:
“Is saving the world possible simply by enough of us saving ourselves?”
I believe the answer is yes.
LikeLike
I believe it, too, Amanda. Go us!
LikeLike
Christa:
I read about this experiment several years ago. If memory serves, it had received widespread media coverage.
Thanks for reminding me with your fabulous post…
I like to be optimistic too, but there is so much war and violence in our world. And now we seem to be on a collision course with the earth, wind and sky. Think global warming.
Think climate change and spending billions on arms, while most people live on less than a dollar a day world-wide.
Reaching “critical mass” is easier to dream about than to achieve. Discussion at summits over champagne, caviar and expensive cigars, I am afraid, ain’t gonna cut it.
Today, we need somebody like Mahatma Gandhi to guide us. Somebody with his stature and charisma for people to follow. Our elected leaders need to lead by example, so we know we can trust them to make necessary changes.
LikeLike