Valentine’s Day. I know lots of people who hate this holiday. “Invented by Hallmark,” so they say. “Gross, canoodling couples. Every day should be Valentine’s Day. Love, yuck. Men suck. Girls are mean. And all the rest of it. Who needs it?” Me. I need it.
Valentine’s Day always keeps me looking up. I don’t have a Valentine this year, but I wish I did. Love and romance are really wonderful things to have, and I do believe that the more we truly are open to them, the easier it will be to find them. We have to be positive about love. If we have a negative attitude toward finding it, or not finding it as the case may be, we can be sure it will continue to elude us.
My friends, Jeff and Ashley, and I have a little love pact. We go out of our way to find singles events that we can all go to so that we can meet as many people as possible. Parties, mixers, events, etc. If it’s possible that we can meet new people, we bring one another along. It’s our philosophy that we never know when love will find its way to us, but we’re certain that the more we get out there into the world, the easier it will be.
In our quest for love, we need support to keep us going and looking. Maybe 2010 will be my year for love. Or at least one step closer to it. Happy Valentine’s Day.
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
Valentine’s Day. I know lots of people who hate this holiday. “Invented by Hallmark,” so they say. “Gross, canoodling couples. Every day should be Valentine’s Day. Love, yuck. Men suck. Girls are mean. And all the rest of it. Who needs it?” Me. I need it. 
Christa Avampato 
Christa,
I can’t believe your single and looking for love.
What, the girl with the million dollar smile?
Ya gotta be kidding me.
Just smile and I am sure all the eligible bachelors will just melt at your feet. They have no choice, none at all.
(Just between you and me, though, aren’t we guys the pits? Aren’t we all just beasts on the prowl looking for only one thing and with no redeeming qualities at all? Ha, ha, ha).
Seriously, though, I hope you find your prince charming and your friends find princess charming. Best wishes to all of you. There is always hope, so stay optimistic.
Don’t let Valentine’s Day give you the blues. And keep on meeting new people and rock the singles scene.
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Hi Archan! You’re so sweet – thank you so much. Valentine’s Day is definitely not making me blue. I actually always love it, single or not 🙂 Tonight I’ll be at dinner and a movie with a friend of mine. Hope you’re having a great day!
-C
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I hope 2010 is your year, Christa – no one deserves it more! see my e-card coming your way. Love, Mom xxxooo
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Hi Christa,
Love your post and your attitude toward Valentine’s and finding love in general! (People who get negative about it can also take down “Christmas” & many other days: too commercialized, etc.)
Even when I didn’t have a date, I still liked the day, knowing that it’s a celebration of love in general, as well as romantic love. It’s about friends and anyone you want to call “Valentine!”
So, that said, “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
~ Bonnie
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Thanks, Bonnie! I’m with you. How could anyone hate a day that’s dedicated to the celebration of love?! Hope you’re having a great one!
-C
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Christa you have already planted the seeds of true love with your friends. Let that energy, that honesty and what sounds like true joy flow freely and love will find its way. One tip, in case you are not a gardner – don’t keep digging the earth to see if the see has taken root. Trust that it has and enjoy the garden that will assuredly come your way. Happy day of love!
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Hi Beth,
I love that tip about not continually digging to see if a seed has taken root. That may just inspire another post….
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Love will come when we least expected and I believe it will come to you. 🙂
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Thanks, Walter! I believe that it does come when we least expect it – this world works in mysterious ways 🙂
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