A few days ago I was shut inside my cozy apartment, working away, blocking out the cold. After an afternoon of intense work, I took a break and made some tea. Tazo Cucumber White Tea – a new flavor for me. I turned the box in my fingers and on the back found the steps to brewing a perfect cup of tea:
Step 1: Bring some fresh filtered water to a boil.
Step 2: For hot tea, place one Tazo filterbag in your cup, mug, or gourd.
Step 3: Pour 8 fl oz of water over the filterbag.
Step 4: Steep for 3 minutes while contemplating your favorite eternal mysteries.
I smiled when I read step 4 and started to walk away from the cup of steeping tea, back to my computer. And then I stopped, mid-step. “I have 3 minutes,” I thought. “What are my favorite eternal mysteries?” I jotted these down:
Why does love take it’s time to find some of us?
Why does the world work in mysterious ways?
Why does beauty take so many forms, and how come beauty is not always readily apparent to the eye?
How do we heal? And when and why?
Why are we able to forget that which hurts us while finding it nearly impossible to forget that which brings us joy?
And then I started imagining pieces of art like those of Brian Andreas: powerful, magical statements accompanied by an illustration that brings those statements to life. I’m not sure if there are any answers to eternal mysteries, but I am glad I took the 3 minutes to think about them, to jot them down. I don’t know if there are any answers to questions like these, but I do think they might make some beautiful art. I do think that they keep us reaching, and in the end, that’s what matters most.
The image above is not my own. I 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
A few days ago I was shut inside my cozy apartment, working away, blocking out the cold. After an afternoon of intense work, I took a break and made some tea. Tazo Cucumber White Tea – a new flavor for me. I turned the box in my fingers and on the back found the steps to brewing a perfect cup of tea:
Christa Avampato 
aaaahhhhh. these are questions that live and breathe. these are questions worth living.
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Thanks, Jeanne. I think so, too. These questions are the ones worth living. Would you add any to the list of your favorites?
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I was already smiling before I got to step four, because I think it’s funny that they suggest drinking tea out of a gourd. Your eternal mysteries resonate with me — things that I have, or think are worth, contemplating. But the eternal mystery that’s on my mind at the moment: Why don’t I have any drinking gourds at my house? Enjoyed your post – Thanks.
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That’s so funny – I thought the same thing when I read that line. I want some drinking gourds of my own! Just subscribed to your blog and Twitter feed. Look forward to reading both!
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I’ll be gourd shopping today;)
Great post and thoughtful “eternal mysteries.” It’s funny because yesterday, getting a haircut, I heard a man at the chair over who was speaking something about “cellular levels” and super-power microscopes and how when you get into it, way into it…it’s just empty space. So, I guess that’s what I’m contemplating.
I also read your “about me,” kudos on already having completed a year of posts on “Hope.” I like your blog & will return!
~Bonnie
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Thanks so much, Bonnie. I love that thought about everything really being empty space. What a beautiful image. I’m going to check out your blog as well!
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Hi ya Christa!
You have no idea what a joy it is to read your blog.
This one, in particular, resonated with me. Very touching.
However, allow me to play the devil’s advocate. Search within your own self for the love you seek outside of your self. That’s why meditation (the journey within) is such a miracle: it has the power to heal you. It seems you are still struggling with issues from the past. There is no better way than meditation. I hope you will consider making this a daily habit. Meditation has changed my life, to be sure.
And you have mentioned art, beauty, mystery. Well, look no further. Check out Maria Brophy’s wonderful blog and kindly consider reading my poem: it is a guest post.
I hope my poem inspires you and you enjoy reading it. This is my small contribution to your fabulous life. Thanks.
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Archan! Thank you so much. I love your reflections on meditation. I can’t wait to check out your guest post!
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