My friend, Sol, posted this on his Facebook page. How about we make our health our priority, live in the present, and make the most of the time we have together?
Leap: How We Surprise the Dalai Lama
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
Christa Avampato 
I had some friends from Egypt. Nabil said to me: In America you work all day, then you go home and work some more. When you reach retirement, all you are good for is to die.
I was in my thirties when Nabil said that to me. I worked 12 hour days and went home to take care of 4 kids on my own.
To my way of thinking, Samia and Nabil came from a place of luxury before they came to the US. They had an arranged marriage, lucrative careers and servants. They worked six days a week, from 10AM-2PM. Their servants did all the work at home.
Samia and Nabil came to the US to escape religious persecution in Egypt.
I am happy that i am not an anxious person, and need worry very little about my own persecution. Still, in my 61 years of life, I have begun to think that man makes his own stress. When he his stress-free, he goes out and finds some. It is often difficult to live in the moment. There is no stress in being; no tug, no pull, no forward, no back
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Floating is so much harder than swimming.
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“Floating is so much harder than swimming” – truer words were never spoken. And I think you just inspired me to write another post. Keep floating.
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Wow! I look forward to your next post.
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Thanks for mentioning me in your blog Christa!
This is a great quote by the Dalai Lama, and a profound observation on the tragedy of the modern lifestyle Western civilization has foisted upon us. Yoga, Buddhism and other spiritual paths have been powerful forces of awakening for more and more of us, shedding light on the folly of living anywhere else but in the present moment.
I couldn’t agree with you more that life is about making the most of our fleeting time here; celebrating our health and supporting the health of others is a powerful way to do that. And I know that you are engaged in doing just that in many ways.
Best to you and your readers here! Namaste.
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Hi Sol – thanks so much for this inspiration. I love his sense of humor that gets us to open out minds and then the profound thoughts he shares that stick with us.
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