I tell wonder-filled stories about hope and healing
It is always great to get away from daily living to give ourselves both a physical and mental break. No matter how long I’m away, I always have a little stress that sneaks in on my last day of vacation. This stress could be dramatically reduced in two ways:
1.) a private jet for travel
2.) someone who does all of my work while I’m away so I don’t have to come back to mountains of it
I wonder which is more likely to happen first!
My mom took us to see the Nutcracker for Christmas. My oldest niece, Lorelei, takes ballet classes and was very excited to see her first ballet. She loved it but was very quiet as we made our way back to the car after the show. She whispered that she was worried she might never be as good as the dancers on stage because they know so much more than she does. She’s 5.
I told her that she didn’t need to worry about that, that we all start from zero. We are all born a blank slate, knowing nothing. With time and practice, we can do anything we want to do. It is about choice and dedication. She looked at me with her very pensive eyes and smiled.
This is true in every aspect of our lives. We’re all strangers at first – to ourselves and to each other. We grow and change and learn. That’s the course of every life. We’re all in this together.
All it takes is one tiny step. All we really need is one small example of our strength and it will open up a well within us that is deeper than we ever thought possible.
There’s always time for silly time. And it’s so good for us.
Here is my one mantra today on my 37th birthday. I’m letting go what doesn’t serve me to make room for more beauty, happiness, wonder, and magic.
Last weekend, I read the New York Times opinion article by Erin Callan, former CFO of Lehman. Having climbed to the top of the corporate ladder, she found that the view wasn’t worth the work it took to get there. She gave up a lot of her life to reach that position and in the article she expresses profound regret. I am glad that I took the leap from that path long before I lost my perspective.
Now my life is a work of art, and for that I am immensely grateful.
As much as I respect my mind’s desire to protect me, I also respect my heart’s ability to guide me. Some obstacles are real, most are imagined, and I take time every day to let my mind and heart sort out which is which. The ones that are real obstacles, I turn into opportunities to grow strength, determination, and creativity. Nothing is impossible.
Happiness has more to do with our health than any other factor. If we can find a way to be happy, really and truly happy, we can find a way to be healthy.
It’s time to stop saying “I can’t” and start finding a way toward “done”.
Whenever I hear Billy Joel sing “New York State of Mind”, I get a little misty-eyed. Call me a sap. This is my city and I love any and every tribute to it. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a loony bin here and you need to be a little crazy to call this place home. When God doled out the crazy genes, or at least the ability to tolerate and even revel in it, I got more than my fair share.
Just as it’s good to step away from work to feel more energized about it, it’s also good to step away from our homes to appreciate what they offer. So off I go to the sunny skies and sandy shores of Florida, one of my 4 annual pilgrimages to see my family, horse around with my nieces during our spontaneous the-world-is-our-dance-floor dance parties, and shop with my mother and sister at places like Target and Publix, the stalwarts of suburban life where everything closes by 9pm and Ellen DeGeneres is queen. It’s such a different pace of life than mine in New York, and I welcome it.
Also, my pup, Phin, is there while I hunt for and settle into a new apartment that’s quieter and more spacious for the two of us. I wish I could tell you I am more excited to see my family than my dog, but it’s just not true. They’re even-steven. I miss his fuzzy face on a minute-by-minute basis and can’t wait until he’s with me again full-time. In the meantime, he’s being lavishly spoiled by my mother, a devout dog lover who thinks canine-liness is next to godliness. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, folks.
I’ll also be rounding the bend into year 37 on the 17th while I’m in Florida. My sister asked me what I’d like to do for my birthday. Honestly, I just want to relax as much as possible, take a few long walks, barbecue, and watch cartoons with the people I love most – in that order. The older I get, the more fun I find in the ordinary.
While I’m away, my posts will be considerably shorter, composed mostly of images and a few words. I hope you enjoy them as much as I’m prepared to enjoy Florida.
Christa Avampato 