Month: July 2014

creative, creative process, creativity, music

Inspired: Rise up – Rick Hall, Muscle Shoals, and the music that saved them

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

Yesterday I watched the documentary Muscle Shoals. It recounts the story of Rick Hall, founder of FAME Studios and legendary music producer. My brother in law’s mom, Trish, whose mother grew up with Rick, explained that he came from the lowest level of poverty this country knows in a small nondescript town deep in Alabama. From there, he grew, a little bitter and insanely determined. And he chose music because it saved him.

I’ll be thinking and writing a lot more about him in the days ahead. He may just be my new hero when it comes to living your dream out loud and never giving up on yourself and your talents even when it feels like the whole world has. Watch the documentary. If he can make a go of his improbable dream, we all can, too. He is someone who sings after storms.

happiness, memory, technology

Inspired: Make some memories that are just yours

Christa Avampato

From PinterestIn our hyper-connected, over-sharing world, it’s a good practice to regularly set aside anything and everything with a battery, cord, screen, or buttons. I’m in Florida for a few weeks with my family and happy to be able to power-down for at least a little while every day. I’m looking forward to making some memories that only exist in real-time powered by nothing more than sunshine and laugher.

adventure, community, freedom

Inspired: Adventure is everywhere

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

It takes a lot of courage to give away a piece of yourself to others. In that way, each interaction we have is an adventure. There’s something to lose, something to gain, and something to risk when you wear your heart on your sleeve. Be an adventurer; live your passions out loud. They’ve freed you so take a chance and share them in the hopes that they will inspire others to free themselves.

action, balance, choices

Inspired: Be where you are

Christa Avampato

From PinterestWe spend so much time wishing we were someplace else that often we miss the little miraculous moments and all of the goodness that is in our presence every day. The older I get, the more I try to stand my ground, literally and figuratively. I try to see all the good, and even all the bad, everywhere I am. I try as hard as I can to channel the good to others and help the bad carry itself to higher ground. I’m not always successful though I find that more often than not the result of any situation has much more to do with me, my attitude, and my actions than it does with any external factors. This game of life is ours to lose, and honestly, I’d much prefer to win. And winning, at anything, anywhere, is almost always a choice.

action, adventure, choices, faith

Inspired: Make the leap

Christa Avampato

From PinterestEventually, the only choice is to leap. You will have to trust, yourself and others, if you want to fulfill your potential. There’s no need to wait or try another alternative. Go for exactly what you want. Take a deep breath and know that you can handle whatever happens next.

goals, growth, learning

Inspired: Make growth your goal

Christa Avampato

From PinterestYour only job is to grow. From good and bad experiences. Triumphs and failures. Glorious surprises and grave disappointments. As long as you learn, no effort is ever wasted and in the end, you always come out ahead as a stronger, braver, wiser you.

decision-making, dreams, faith

Inspired: Plant your dreams in faith and water them

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

Of course you have doubts. You second-guess yourself. You wonder about the intentions of others. You question your abilities and your choices. You are human, and you are a person of integrity who reflects, considers, and maintains curiosity. You always want to improve upon what you’ve already done. Doubt is going to be there. Work through it and learn. But please, don’t turn back. Don’t give up now. You’ve come too far and worked too hard to throw it all away. Modify, pivot, adjust, change, but don’t quit. Keep going. Doubt is like the rain. It’s necessary and healthy to question ourselves and others, but it doesn’t prevent the sun from having its chance to shine. It’s a cycle. Act accordingly.

adventure, choices, creativity

Inspired: A life of many leaps

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

Leaping is never a matter of one and done. Every day, we take chances. We lay our cards down the table and say, “This is who I am. This is what I care about. And this is why it matters.” Leaping is like breathing: we must keep leaping to attain the full benefit of each small step. It’s only when we combine them that we learn just how far we can go.

creativity

Inspired: Celebrate independence

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

Live out loud. Laugh often. Relish freedom. Make some fireworks. Happy 4th!

creativity, encouragement, learning

Inspired: DFTBA – John and Hank Green’s mantra that we should all adopt

Christa Avampato
Crash Course
Crash Course

John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars, also runs a web series called Crash Course with his brother, Hank. In a series of 10-15 minute YouTube videos, John teaches humanities and Hank teaches science. My brother-in-law, Kyle, introduced Crash Course to me and I’m addicted. While I’m completely in love with the content and hosts, I’m even crazier about the tagline at the end of each one: “Don’t forget to be awesome” or #DFTBA for those in the know. Write it down and post it up all over your home. This is a mantra we all need to adopt and recite.