In the past few weeks I have been bowled over by the amount of crisis in the world. I almost don’t bother to open the email alerts I get of what’s coming up on the nightly news. I already know what they’ll say – covering the dual crisis in Libya and Japan. The photos and descriptions of events happening in both countries are terrifying. And still, despite all of the destruction and violence, I do think this is an hour that holds a lot of promise. These two crises can bring us together is a powerful, meaningful way.
Thomas Friedman wrote an excellent column this week about our perfect storm of problems – the prolonged abuse of our environment is coming to bear in one natural disaster after another, violent revolutions in the Middle East threaten a great portion of our energy supply, and the ever-evolving situation with the Japanese nuclear plant casts a long shadow over our society’s view of nuclear energy. It would be easy to designate blame to a party other than ourselves, to point the finger away from us. In this hour of our history, the most helpful thing we can do is to take a good long look in the mirror, collectively and individually, and ask what we can do in this moment and in every moment going forward to create a healthier more sustainable world in every dimension.
For some sad reason, humans often require a burning platform before we can allow ourselves to change. I wish we didn’t, but the truth is until we have a darn good motivation to change, we just plod along as we always have. Something has to inspire to mix it up. Maybe the crisis in the Middle East is what we need to finally make our peace with all people, of all faiths. Maybe these terrifying natural disasters will change our daily habits to do what’s best to sustain and nurture our natural world. Maybe we’ll let go of even a fraction of our energy consumption. Perhaps Yuka Saionji is right, these crisis can be the catalyst to our own evolution.
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
2 thoughts on “Beginning: Crisis as a Pathway to Evolution”
Christa,
Yes, we need to live in peace and harmony with our natural world, but we have a long way to go to achieve that goal.
As human beings, we have been too busy doing instead of just being. Being reactive rather than proactive. We don’t seem to understand that “prevention is better than cure.”
Doing means consumerism, materialism and destruction of our natural resources to the point of no return.
Alas, the dire warnings have fallen on deaf ears, and one by one the events of our world bear witness to the fact that we are losing this game,
Creating a nurturing and sustainable world should be our goal, but it seems we are unwilling and unable to make the sacrifices necessary. Thanks for a fabulous post, though.
I agree, Archan. We do have such a long way to go but I am still hopeful that we can turn it around. Afterall, sooner or later we will have no choice but to change our ways. Resources don’t last forever. Let’s hope we turn it around before the situation becomes any more dire.
Christa Avampato 
Christa,
Yes, we need to live in peace and harmony with our natural world, but we have a long way to go to achieve that goal.
As human beings, we have been too busy doing instead of just being. Being reactive rather than proactive. We don’t seem to understand that “prevention is better than cure.”
Doing means consumerism, materialism and destruction of our natural resources to the point of no return.
Alas, the dire warnings have fallen on deaf ears, and one by one the events of our world bear witness to the fact that we are losing this game,
Creating a nurturing and sustainable world should be our goal, but it seems we are unwilling and unable to make the sacrifices necessary. Thanks for a fabulous post, though.
Cheers.
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I agree, Archan. We do have such a long way to go but I am still hopeful that we can turn it around. Afterall, sooner or later we will have no choice but to change our ways. Resources don’t last forever. Let’s hope we turn it around before the situation becomes any more dire.
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