Month: May 2012

career, courage, creativity, dreams

Leap: My New Year’s Resolution Is Complete – I Took the Leap

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest

“I am not afraid. I was born to do this.” ~ Joan of Arc

On January 1st, I started down the path that would culminate in a leap from my current job. I thought it would be December by the time I actually made the leap but yesterday I gave my notice and my last day at my job will be June 15th. My co-workers are sad and disappointed as much as they are proud and excited to see me give my dream a real shot at coming true. I am so grateful for the lessons I’ve learned there and excited for the next chapter.

For the past 4 years I have been working full-time as a product developer for a financial services company and now I will turn utilize my experience toward teaching, writing, and creative product development projects, particularly (but not exclusively) focusing on technology in the healthcare and education spaces.

When I graduated from business school 5 years ago, I never imagined that I would contemplate working for myself. I made excuses: I’m too young; I don’t have enough experience; I’ll never make enough money to support myself. They are all valid fears, but there was one fear that was greater than all of these combined. What if I never devote my time to the projects that really light me up? How would I reflect on my life knowing that I didn’t do everything I could to merge my work with my passions?

And then the answer became simple – I have to at least try and that means letting go of what seems stable and secure for the sake of following the path that is most authentic. In actuality, the latter is the safest road. When we put ourselves in charge of our futures, we find renewed energy, strength, and creativity. We understand the true value of our time. We find our greatest worth.

So now as this chapter comes to a close, a bright, shiny, new one begins. Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me, for all of your support and encouragement, for believing that we can all be exactly the people we are meant to be, living the lives we are meant to live. We’re on our way. We’re building our wings.

adventure, creativity, curiosity, time

Leap: Take Time to Be Curious

Christa Avampato

“What we need is not the will to believe but the will to find out.” ~ Bertrand Russell

A company I know recently went through a very large reorganization due to significant changes in leadership. My friends there who kept their roles are being asked to trust the vision and strategy of the new leadership team on blind faith. They are being asked to believe in something that has not yet been proven, that doesn’t even have any results on which to base their belief. In the face of such significant change, this is a tall order.

The company recently surveyed the current employees to ask how they feel about the new strategy. Many felt positive about the changes, though they had a lot of doubt about the ability of the new leadership team to make good on their promises. I smiled when my friends told me that. It is exactly the right answer. We may not be able to control all of our circumstances, at work or in life, but we always have the right to our curiosity. We always have the right, and I would go so far as to say the obligation, to say, “Let’s see how it all unfolds.”

Any time we are going through change, we experience a bit of seizing up. That seizing up can be physical, emotional, or mental. It is just resistance, and we can breathe through it. It’s a very natural part of change. It’s from fear of the unknown. It’s meant as a protective device, though too often it becomes a weight around our necks that keeps us from moving in the direction we’re meant to go.

Our curiosity is a potent tool to use during these moments of seizing up, second only to our breath. When that resistance to change finds us, as it always does, we take a big inhale, then exhale, and then give ourselves the permission to be curious about the outcome. Have the will not to believe that this is the right thing to happen but the will to find out if it’s the right thing to happen to us right now.

Let the questions rise up. Why? How? When? Where? With whom? Dig in to the answers and don’t let anyone tell you that you must follow along simply because they said so. Question until you get answers you can believe in. And if your questions aren’t met satisfactorily, you have the right to walk out and carve your own path. Only you own your time and only you get to decide how it’s best spent. Seek, and eventually, you will find.

opportunity, time

Leap: Forget Time

Christa Avampato

Our conceptions of time hold us back. We’re either too old or too young. We don’t have enough experience. We don’t have enough education. We don’t have the right contacts. We don’t have the right skills. We haven’t been at our current jobs long enough or we’ve been around too long to change. We’re too old or too young to get married, have kids, buy a house, travel around the world. We’re too old or too young to create change. We use time as an excuse to not take action. We use time as a way of wiggling out of rising up to be everything we are meant to be.

Time’s up. No more waiting. No more excuses. No more looking forward or looking back. You are have right now. In this moment, we are capable of great change. And it’s true in every moment. Go and be exactly who you want to be. Time doesn’t stand still. Time doesn’t wait for us. But in time, there lives every possibility. Go grab it!

creativity

Leap: Remembering Our Heroes On Memorial Day

Christa Avampato

When I was a kid, Memorial Day was a big deal. Everyone in our small town went to the parade because everyone in my town was somehow connected to the military – either personally or through friends or family. Most of the men had served at one point or another, particularly the ones who were of the generations who fought in WWII and Korea. At the end of the parade there was a 21 gun salute at the cemetery and people always cried during that piece. As a kid I didn’t understand why that was such an emotional moment for so many people. Now, of course, I do. Particularly given our last decade. So much has been given, so much has been lost. It is overwhelming and I am humbled by their sacrifice and courage.

This Memorial Day as we’re chowing down and enjoying the freedom and happiness that is associated with official kick-off of summer, let’s take a moment to remember those who fought for us so that we could have days like this. They’ve so much for all of us for so long. Let’s take the time to remember them, thanks them, and support them and their families.

blog, books, social media, story, writer, writing

Leap: A Facebook Community for My Readers

Christa Avampato

5 years ago this weekend I started this blog. I never thought it would become such a labor of love that would bring so many incredible gifts. And finally, after all of this time, I got it together and created a Facebook Page expressly for the readers of this blog for several reasons:

1.) To provide a way for me to connect more closely with all of you and for readers to connect with one another

2.) To promote the works of other writers and to give readers the opportunity to do the same

3.) To offer all of us a way to share what inspires us – books, articles, photographs, stories, good works in our communities, quotes, travels, ideas, questions, etc.

4.) To give writers another way to promote their own work and connect with other writers

5.) To connect people who are taking big leaps in their careers and lives

I want this page to be a place where we can all offer up ideas and commentary in a supportive and thoughtful way. As I’m preparing to make my own professional leap, I’ve met so many people who are in the process of doing the same thing. Here’s our chance to get behind one another and encourage each other on the path forward. I really want this page to be incredibly dynamic with many contributions by a wide circle of people who are curious and passionate about living their best lives.

I really hope you’ll all join me, like the page, and then let the sharing begin at http://www.facebook.com/ChristaInNewYork.com.

change, decision-making, happiness

Leap: Bringing Happiness Into Focus

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest

“Happiness can only be found if you free yourself from all other distractions.” ~ Saul Bellow

If we sit down to write out our goals, how likely is it that we would list “be happy”? The great majority of us want to be happy. I’ll go so far as to say that’s the whole point of having goals. When we talk about wanting our lives to have meaning and to be purposeful or when we work on following our bliss, happiness is the root goal.

And yet, we get distracted. We list a million other tasks and goals that we think will bring us happiness but we don’t focus on just being happy. It’s as if that goal is not lofty enough or it’s too self-indulgent. I’m dropping that hang up. When someone asks me why it is that I’m making such a big shift in my career and in the way my life is structured, my reply will be very simple – because it makes me happy.

art, choices, decision-making

Leap: Everything An Artist Cannot Know

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest

There is a freedom in not knowing what to do next. We cannot be right nor can we be wrong so we don’t need to worry about the decision. All we can do is clearly see the options, try one avenue, and then try another if need be. Once we can admit this to ourselves, embrace it and be okay with it, a lot of the stress falls away. The suffering of our lives lies in our indecision to act, not in our actions.

determination, India, nature, travel

Leap: A Tree Grows in India, Where Everything is Possible

Christa Avampato
Tree growing on mountainside in Munnar, Kerala. India.

This picture is one of my favorite photos from India. After a torrential downpour high in the mountains of Munnar, Kerala, the sun came out and lit up the entire valley as my incredible driver and guide, Jose, wound us safely down toward the hotel. We pulled over to the side of the road to take in the pastures down below and the mountains up above.

On the side of the mountain, we found this tree. The roots entirely exposed and yet solid as a rock, healthy and strong. Jose said it had been in that state for years, monsoon season after monsoon season.

“How is that possible?” I asked, thinking of all of the tree that are routinely knocked down by storms in New York City’s Central Park.

“Miss Rose, this is India. Here everything is possible.”

As we made our way toward the hotel, Jose told me about his plans to leave his current job and start up his own bike tour business when his contract is up at the end of the year. He has been leading mountain bike tours all over southern India as a side business.

He’s become so passionate about it, that he’s undertaking his venture full-time. He sees the upside of this risk and wants to capitalize on it. The worst that will happen is that it won’t work and he’ll easily go back to working for a tour company because he is so sought after for his knowledge and expertise on everything South India.

Here I am fretting about my upcoming leap when we have so many more advantages here in the U.S. to change our lives for the better. Meeting Jose was certainly the Universe speaking to me loud and clear. “Go and see what you find. Learn. Explore. Do. Everything is possible. It’s up to us.”

community, community service, women

Leap: You Can Help One Inspiring Woman Win $35,000 Thanks to GOOD

Christa Avampato

I’ve been a supporter of GOOD for several years. Fresh out of business school, I moved to New York in 2007 and became intensely interested in social entrepreneurship. Poking around online, I stumbled across a fairly new publication that described itself as “a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward. Since 2006 we’ve been making a magazine, videos, and events for people who give a damn.” That was GOOD enough for me. I’ve been on their mailing list ever since.

They are teaming up again with L’Oreal to present the Women of Worth Program to “celebrate women for their contributions to their communities.” In a time when our communities have so much need and so many people who want to make a difference, this program shines a light on those who serve as an inspiration for all of us.

This year, ten amazing women will be chosen from your nominations to win $10,000 for their nonprofit organization of choice. One national honoree will be selected from these ten to receive an additional $25,000 towards her cause. We all know amazing women – let’s give them our show of support for everything they do for all of us. Nominations close on May 31. Past nominees have been recognized for their work that includes everything from fostering underserved youth to finding cures for pediatric cancer. Learn more about their stories here and nominate a woman you know today.

adventure, India, travel

Leap: God Took My Picture in India

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest

India revealed itself to me in snapshots. I think about it more in pictures frozen in time rather than as one continuous experience.

I arrived in Kerala, a state in the southwest region of India, at 3am to a massive thunder and lightning storm. My incredibly competent and kind driver, Jose, and guide, Rex, made their way to us (welcome garlands of gardenias intact!) and perfectly navigated the rain and windy roads that define this region. The storm was raging outside, lighting up the entire landscape down below.

“This is one wild storm,” I said sleepily.

“Look, Miss Rose, God is taking your picture,” said Jose.We all laughed.

(Everyone in India referred to me by my middle name as they often refer to one another that way by custom. Plus, my last name is a real bear!)

And that was my first insight into Jose and an indicator of all of the insights and perspectives that I would receive from him in the following days as we wound our way through Kerala. In India, no matter how grim the situation, there is always an upside.