Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Good food and lots of downtime with no pressure of gifts or any schedule. There’s a parade with colorful floats, followed by hours of sporting events and a nap or two, and the knowledge that the next month is about having as much fun as possible.
This morning I was lying in bed and counting my blessings, which I am so lucky to have in abundance. I like this exercise because it helps me realize all that I do have, but I like it best for an even more important reason – it makes me realize how much I don’t need. Right before that horrendous day known as Black Friday, this is a good thing to remember. When Phin and I went out for our walk this morning, we picked up the morning paper to find it bursting with retail fliers, some touting that their doors open at 3:00am. That is one thing I certainly don’t need.
In so many ways we’ve been conned (mostly by ourselves) into thinking we just don’t have enough, that we must hang on to everything in sight because it’s about to slip right through our fingers in the blink of an eye. So we stuff our lives and homes with material possessions, pack our schedules to the brim, and still long for more.
This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for less. A schedule that’s not hectic, a home that has little more than the bare essentials, a good meal that fills me to just the right level, some sunshine, and simple times with my family. These days I’m living with less, and grateful for it because it means I have so much more to give.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The image above 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
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Good food and lots of downtime with no pressure of gifts or any schedule. There’s a parade with colorful floats, followed by hours of sporting events and a nap or two, and the knowledge that the next month is about having as much fun as possible. 
Christa Avampato 
Just loved this article. I can relate to it so much. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thanks so much, Sonia! I am so much happier having less. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Yes yes! We’re spending the day clearing out our closets (and minds) of unneeded things. Wanting less pays dividends in perpetuity. We would have been branded blasphemous in business school.. oh, wait =)
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hehehe – so true, Michael! 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
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Really good thoughts!
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