The New York Times put together its annual review of the year in pictures. Every year I’m stunned by everything that’s happened in our world. The earthquake in Haiti, and then the earthquake soon after in Chile. The volcano in Iceland. The Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The oil spill in the Gulf. The World Cup in South Africa. The rescue of the Chilean miners.
Photographers are such a treasure who capture moments that help us remember these monumental events with great emotion. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I think its worth something beyond words, something we just can’t capture in language. They transport us to a different time and place, they increase our capacity for compassion and empathy, and show us an alternative existence, one often wholly unfamiliar to us. Through pictures, we live many lifetimes.
The ones that truly leave me with my mouth hanging open are the ones depicting the dynamic nature of our planet. We think the ground we stand on is so steady, but it’s no wonder we experience so many shifts in our lives. Everything around us is shifting all the time. It’s in our nature to shift and change, to catch and release, to live on the peaks of mountains as often as we live far below in the depths of the valley. The only thing we’re certain of is that where we are today, what we see, hear, and feel will be different tomorrow.
So take the day today and really look around, take in the view, take in every detail your senses will absorb. We will never pass this way again exactly as it is at this moment. Each one its own special gift made just for us.
The image above depicts the eruption of the volcano in Iceland earlier this year that completely shut down air travel in the northern hemisphere. 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
The New York Times put together its annual review of the year in pictures. Every year I’m stunned by everything that’s happened in our world. The earthquake in Haiti, and then the earthquake soon after in Chile. The volcano in Iceland. The Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The oil spill in the Gulf. The World Cup in South Africa. The rescue of the Chilean miners. 
Christa Avampato 
Christa,
I think you are a visual person and have an eye for pictures.
Images are your strength. You present photos quite well.
Just my humble opinion. Thanks for your contributions. Cheers.
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Thanks, Archan. That means so much to me. I have never really thought of myself as a visual person, but I want to explore that side of my brain a bit more in the coming year. I’ll let you know how it goes and thanks, as always, for the encouragement.
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