We’ve all got dark corners – in our past, present, and future. If we live long enough and fully enough, we all find misfortune in some form or another. And that misfortune becomes a part of us as much as any joy or success. The darkness has its place, too, if for nothing else than to give us empathy, compassion, and understanding for the dark corners that others have.
My wise and dear friend, Sara, helped me realize something about our darkness. Somewhere buried deep in your shadow is a false truth that you believe because of the things that have hurt you. Don’t shrug off your sadness or pain. Instead, look at it not with a stone cold stare but with gentleness and love and kindness. Ask your doubt why it’s there and what it believes about you. Are you a fraud? Are you difficult to love? Are you enough? These are the questions hidden in the shadows of our lives that lurk and pop their heads up when we least expect them and least need them—when we’re already down and out and trying to stay afloat.
Sara recently helped me uncover the questions in my shadow. While I have no answers to them yet, I now know what they are for the very first time. She gave me an amazing gift—the ability to see my shadow without flinching, shrinking, or denying its existence. My shadow and I aren’t totally comfortable with each other yet, but we’re on our way. And we’re dancing.
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
2 thoughts on “This just in: Dance with your shadow”
Hola! I’ve been following your web site for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Humble Tx!
Just wanted to mention keep up the excellent
work!
Christa Avampato 
Hola! I’ve been following your web site for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Humble Tx!
Just wanted to mention keep up the excellent
work!
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Thanks so much, Ruby. Hola back at ya and thanks for reading.
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