“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” ~Marie Curie
I am tremendously excited about moving into my new condo. I also have many moments throughout the day when I’m scared out of my mind about buying real estate. There’s a twitchy part of me that every day wants to go running and screaming from this purchase. But I don’t. I do know in my gut that this is the right thing to do. So I sit down and I breathe. Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I smile. When all else fails, I hug Phineas and eat a bowl of ice cream.
I am trying hard to understand what’s behind the fear. I’ve had housing insecurity for most of my life. I know deep down that what’s irking me is change, even though I happen to very good at change. Hell, I’ve been upsetting the apple cart for most of my life. But every time there’s a big shift, a small part of me worries that I have somehow made the absolute wrong choice. I imagine myself as that tiniest of birds way out there on the very edge of the branch. It’s teetering. I’m teetering. And somehow this time my wings won’t work. I won’t be able to fly. I won’t be able to deal with whatever comes my way, even though I’ve always been able to deal with even the worst circumstances.
I have to constantly remind myself that I’m enough, that I can do this, that I will be okay, or find a way to be okay. I might be scared, but I’m doing this anyway knowing that eventually understanding will arrive.
Published by Christa Avampato
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.
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Christa Avampato 