Month: March 2013

creativity, time, to-do lists, work

Beautiful: My Stop Day Results

Christa Avampato

05037166e614dbda61527b0005c77dd9Some times the very best thing we can do for our work is to not work.

On Saturday, I took the day off in honor of a self-imposed Stop Day. I have only taken a handful of days away from anything related to work since leaving my corporate job and starting up my own business last June. I love my work. It gives me energy and inspires me. I’ve never felt the need or desire to work long hours out of guilt or a belief that working more hours will get me further ahead on some nebulous ladder to the top. I give what a job needs to be done well and starting my own requires a lot of my time to tend to clients, do the work I committed to do, pitch for new business, and research possible future pitches. (See my 3X3X3 article for my system of working.)

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot about how stepping away from work helps make us more efficient and creative. Since I am an efficiency hound and constantly trying new ways to boost my creativity, I decided to give it a purposeful whirl.

It was much more difficult than I imagined. Because I do enjoy my work so much, I found myself constantly coming up with new ideas that I could do and people I should connect with. Rather than act on them, I would make a quick note of these for later and then let them go. I put aside any reading that was even remotely related to any work I do. I stayed off my social media channels (for the most part) and didn’t write anything related to assignments I currently have.

After a couple of hours, I did feel a surge of energy and did a free writing exercise whose results even surprised me. A gush of words flowed out on a subject I haven’t thought about in years. I guess they had been trying to break through the surface and saw that they finally had their chance.

By early afternoon, it was time to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. I went to brunch at Lobster Joint with a dear friend and then we took a several hour walk all over lower Manhattan, reveling in the sunshine. I stopped into Crumbs, my favorite cupcake shop, to pick up some goodies for a cocktail party that another friend had spontaneously decided to throw at his apartment that night. I arrived at the party and then stayed many hours later than I had planned.

It was a truly wonderful and relaxing day. And you know what? The sky didn’t fall down and my business didn’t tank just because I took a day off. In fact, despite daylight savings time, I hopped up out of bed and was excited and inspired to get back to my work without the stress of a to-do list. My efficiency was higher. My energy was cranking even without the zip of coffee. I felt really alive.

Stop Day will make a regular appearance on my schedule going forward.

beauty, curiosity, learning

Beautiful: Learn to Love the Questions

Christa Avampato

cf9159c05c338d293cc57fa176468d6b“Having all the answers just means you’ve been asking boring questions.” ~ Joey Comeau

We have such a desire to know. Why did something happen to us? Why are we in our current situation? What will happen next? We dig for answers. We hypothesize, experiment, discover, and document.

There are some things that cannot be explained. There are some things that we only understand with the gifts of distance and time. There are some things that are mysteries and will remain that way. We cannot know it all, at least not right now. And there’s something reassuring in that; something that’s even kind of fun.

No matter how much we learn or how much we have, there will always be more questions. And where there are more questions, there are more discoveries to be had. There will always be fuel for our curiosity, a need for our imagination and creativity. There is always hope that tomorrow the picture will be a bit clearer than it is today. Interesting questions give us a reason to keep going.

animals, dogs, love, pets

Beautiful: Why Dogs Don’t Live as Long as People

Christa Avampato

484838_275297089262931_1160384473_nGiven my deep love for dogs (especially my little guy, Phin), a friend of mine sent me this story. My friend doesn’t know the author and I searched online to no avail. It’s a beautiful story about a veterinarian and an amazing little boy as he confronts losing his faithful pup, Belker.

“Why Dogs Don’t Live as Long as People. Answer of a 6-Year-Old.”

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker ‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said,”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The 6-year-old continued,

”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

Enjoy every moment of every day!”

community, teaching, yoga

Beautiful: The Power of a Small Group of Thoughtful, Committed Citizens

Christa Avampato

8932358bdef464c26569664a77fa7917Two years ago this week Compass Yoga began offering free classes through the New York Public Library. This is some of the best feel-good work around and it happens because a small group of people huddle together, committed to helping the people in our community live happier, healthier lives. We give what we have to people who need it. It’s really that simple. And that powerful.

Thanks to so many of you have shared this journey with us and cheered us on right from the start. We’ll keep going until every person has the ability to access the benefits of this beautiful practice.

A huge thank you to our friend and supporter, Rebecca Donsky, who two years ago saw the good we could do at the Bloomingdale Library. Then she helped us expand to new branches so that we could bring the healing of yoga and meditation to more people. In that time, we’ve grown to a dozen weekly classes at partner sites that help over 200 people every week. Our incredible teachers make it possible. Namaste to all of them!

exercise, health, time

Beautiful: Make Time for Exercise

Christa Avampato

131448882843704062_b1U90uKY_bI saw this poster a few months ago, and its message rings inside my mind every time I consider not lacing up my running shoes or not unrolling my yoga mat. I’m never sorry I’ve done either; it’s just that overcoming inertia can some times be difficult. That and I’d be perfectly happy to settle in and watch the Big Bang Theory while munching on frozen thin mint Girls Scout cookies.

I pinned this image up at my desk. It reminds me to close my laptop, back away from the desk slowly, and make time to move. Yes, we’ve got problems with our food supply, air quality, and sleep cycles. But what’s killing us is sitting. We sit for too long too often. Active sitting, meditation, is one thing. Sitting at a computer, in front of the TV, or even just reading for too much of the day is quite another scenario.

And then there is the issue of time. We have too much work, too many responsibilities at home, and then there’s that little matter of wanting a social life, too. But we need to carve out the time our schedules to get up and go. Take the stairs. Have a walking date instead of a coffee date (but you’re welcome to take the coffee with you!) Lift some hand weights while you’re watching your favorite TV shows. Or really go for it and make the time to exercise without doing anything else as a diversion to the work at hand.

Age is coming for us whether we like it or not. Sickness is a part of life. But we should at least give ourselves the best possible chance of staying as fit and as young as we can for as long as we can. To do that, we need to move.

adventure, beauty, risk

Beautiful: The Treasure Trove Outside Our Comfort Zone

Christa Avampato

f814d9128ac6fdcab3af3031120cb10bStaying in our comfort zone feels so good. We know where everything is and we know how it all works. We have every confidence that we can succeed in our comfort zone and it doesn’t take that much effort.

But it won’t help us know how far we can go. It won’t give us a sense of our edge, nor of our potential. In our comfort zone we’ll never know just how much we can love and we’ll never know all of the beauty that lies within us.

The journey into the unknown, guided only by our intuition, is not easy. We get confused and lost. We sometimes feel unsteady and unsure. But what we learn is self-reliance and strength and courage. We find out what we’re really made of and what matters most. Out there, we have the opportunity to impact the lives of so many others. In that wonderfully complex and diverse world, we discover what’s possible. Go have an adventure!

creative, creative process, creativity, story, writing

Beautiful: Storytelling the Pixar Way

Christa Avampato

I am a huge fan of Pixar’s storytelling and their 2 word business plan – “quality rules.” I found this illustration of their storytelling rules and had to share it with all of you. My favorite is #4 because it so elegantly and simply gives us a way forward in telling and understanding the framework of any story. I hope you find this list as helpful as I do!

608f6716b2fb042276dd2387719cc895

success, work

Beautiful: Be Your Own Champion

Christa Avampato

e41933d7b503e2a2cc784c583e68a214“You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” ~ Lucille Ball

You said it, Lucy. You have to be your own best advocate. Every. Single. Day. There is no end to the number of people who will tell you that you can’t do something. They’re also fond of telling you what you should do and how much you should make to do the things they want you to do. I experience it as a freelancer every day. And every day I need to reiterate my boundaries, to myself and others. Then I need to enforce them, constantly.

I make the lion’s share of my income advising nonprofit organizations and then executing my advice in the form of programs, content, fundraising strategies, and marketing campaigns. I never intended to be a consultant but in this first phase of life in the freelance wild west, that’s how the chips have fallen. What I need to do to move into the next phase is be my own best consultant, coach, and fan. I need to look at my goals, look at my actions, formulate any and all needed adjustments, take my own advice, and go for it. Whatever “it” is.

It’s a tough job to be your own biggest fan. It’s even harder to be your own counsel but there’s no one better for the job.

time, work

Beautiful: I’m Officially Declaring 3/9/13 as Stop Day

Christa Avampato

aac725539ccd7b76ef4bda3631d3dd64“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” ~ Eddie Cantor

Did you know there are people in the world who spend at least one day a week goofing off? Just flat-out not doing a damn thing that has anything to do with work of any kind. I know. I’m shocked, too. And by shocked, I mean envious.

We wear our work schedule on our sleeves as a source of pride. And certainly dedication and determination are prized qualities of character. I’d go so far as to call them skills. But lately I’ve been thinking a lot about an article I read on CNN.com that discusses the idea of a Stop Day, as in hold everything, stop the presses, close up shop, and spend the day loafing around with your pooch. Or going for a run. Or seeing friends. Anything that is the opposite of what work means for you. I’m rather in love with the concept. It makes me giggle like a school girl.

For thousands of years, the world continued to turn while every week most of the planet’s population took one day to rest and rejuvenate. No. Work. Allowed. Violations of Stop Day were punishable by death. Okay, not really but seriously, there was no way you were getting to Heaven if you violated Stop Day. Don’t even bother showing up at the Pearly Gates. Workaholics need not apply and Saint Peter is the bouncer. You don’t want to mess with him.

Somewhere along the way, we shunned organized religion. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but folks we threw the baby out with the bath water. On days when people went to their Church, Temple, Mosque, or holy coffee shop to reflect and pray for sunnier days ahead, they took time off. For one day, their minds stopped racing and they just spent time in the company of loved ones. Or no one. They did what they wanted to do. They thought about their time – past, present, and future – and how it had been and should be used going forward.

Being someone who loves to be busy and who honestly loves work, the idea of a Stop Day made me sit straight-up, crinkle my nose, and, as I’m wont to do, ask “who the hell has time for Stop Day”? And that’s the point. I do. We all do. It’s a matter of priorities. And if our priority is to be the very best version of ourselves, then we better make time to take time lest we spend our days exhausted, worn out, and bitter.

I’m not sure if I can take a day every single week to completely stop work of any kind. I’m building a business, running a nonprofit, and working on several personal projects. But, despite my better judgement, perhaps a day off a week is just what I need to make a break-thru. Maybe all the running around, the constant pursuit, is doing more harm than good.

Look, I’m not saying that now I’ve seen the light and I will forever hold one day every week for the rest of my life as Stop Day. But I’ll commit to giving it a try to see how I feel once I experience it. I’m a little worried that this will quickly become an addiction, much like my undying love for frozen thin mint cookies. But, what the hell. You only live once.

Next Saturday, March 9th, I’m taking a break from it all. Everything that looks, feels, and smells like work will just have to hold its horses and wait this one out. Want to join me and give yourself a break, too? You deserve it.

grateful, gratitude, kindness, thankful

Beautiful: The Best Way to Say Thank You is to Share What You Have

Christa Avampato

fabc9fa30d6a4ae0026940317887819d“How do you say “thank you” for sunshine or health…for clear days or gentle rains…for happiness, joy or love? You say it by sharing what you have. You say it by making the world a better place in which to live.” ~ Thomas D. Willhite

Sure you could say thank you a thousand times over. I recommend it. People need to know that they are appreciated. They need to hear thank you much more often than they do. If someone does something nice for you and you don’t acknowledge that kindness with a “thank you”, then you’re essentially flipping them off, but worse – you’re flipping them off with a passive aggressive air of nonchalance. It’s as if you would flip them off, if only it were worth the time. Ick. Say thank you – loud, proud, and often.

“Thank you” is a lovely sentiment. Simple, direct, and classy. And there’s something even better. Say thank you and then turn around and pay it forward. Sure you could turn around in the line in Starbucks and pay for your neighbors expensive caffeinated beverage. You could also extend your kindness to everyone you meet. For a day, just make it a point to smile, say thank you, look everyone in the eye, and mean it. It’s that simple. And it’s so powerful.

At the end of most of my yoga classes, I let students know that it’s my honor to be there with them, that the light that is in me honors the light that is in each one of them. And that isn’t just some gratuitous sentiment. I mean it. I feel it. I want each one of them to know that. They matter and I’m glad that I had the chance to spend some time with them. I hope the classes are helpful to them. They certainly are for me.

Life is all about exchange. Everyone shows up with what they have. It’s a mental pot luck and everyone’s invited. Share what you have and rest assured that it is enough.