Month: June 2024

creativity

Celebrating National Cancer Survivors Month

Christa Avampato
Superpower by Brian Andreas

This year I learned June is National Cancer Survivors Month. I ended active treatment (for me, that was the end of primary surgeries, intravenous chemotherapy, and radiation) at the end of May 2021 so it perfectly coincides with my official cancer-free anniversary. 3 years on and I’m feeling terrific!

Being a survivor is daily work. Diet, exercise, medication, meditation, mindfulness, sleep, and stress-reduction are incredibly important parts of my routine helping me stay cancer-free. It can sometimes be a lonely road. Unless someone has walked this path themselves, it’s difficult to understand how it feels. My body does not look nor feel the way my pre-cancer body did. It never will. I’ve had to make peace with a new normal, scars and all. I miss my pre-cancer body and I’m grateful for the one I have. We can simultaneously carry mourning and gratitude. I carry them every day.

What I never lose sight of, not for a single moment, is that I’m extraordinarily lucky to be here at all. Even luckier still to be living a life I love and to be healthy. 2024 thus far has been challenging for me — personally, academically, and professionally. The world is a difficult place. My corner of the world is difficult, too, albeit for very different reasons. And still, I’m finding and cultivating beauty, wonder, joy, and love every day, in my work and in my life.

It’s a beautiful coincidence that this morning Brian Andreas, one of my favorite artists, posted this image that he created called Superpower. I’ll be buying this one to hang in my bedroom. It’s me. My superpower is waking up every day constantly amazed at being alive. Long may it continue.

creativity

Fun at the Jazz Age Lawn Party on NYC’s Governor’s Island

Christa Avampato

A banner adventure day in New York for me and one of my nearest and dearest friends at Governor’s Island’s Jazz Age Lawn Party. Long may the 1920s roar!

Everyone looked amazing and the music was stellar. I love how open, welcoming, and friendly everyone was. It was a gorgeous day with a joyful, relaxed, diverse crowd that reflected just what a fantastic city New York is. We danced, laughed, ate, chatted, and had so much fun in our period dresses. Ashley is a stellar dancer and used to do competitive swing dancing so she was absolutely in her element.

Next year is the 20th anniversary of the party, and we’re going to get a group together to go. We hope you’ll join us. And we’re already thinking about ways we might pitch a storytelling show to be part of the fun!🎶💃

creativity

I’m a guest on the nature podcast, Unearthing Wild Wonders

Christa Avampato
Nature inspired — home, healing, and biomimicry with Christa Avampato

A few months ago, I met Nicky Jenner, a gardener, conservationist, and nature lover who lives in Devon in the southeast of the U.K. Though I’ve only known her a short while, the moment we met I knew she was a kindred spirit. 

She told me she was starting a podcast called Unearthing Wild Wonders about the wisdom and wonder of nature, and how we bring about positive change in our deeply troubled world. I was honored when she asked if I’d be a guest and I immediately accepted. Our episode, Nature inspired — home, healing, and biomimicry with Christa Avampato , is out now. Unearthing Wild Wonders is beautiful, uplifting, and hopeful, and each episode leaves me newly inspired to continue my work to protect the planet. Also, Nicky’s voice immediately puts me at ease. 

In our conversation, Nicky and I talk about how the challenges I’ve faced in my life and with my health ignited my passion and commitment to make a difference for all beings on our precious planet. We talk about biomimicry and how the most unlikely species have inspired phenomenal innovations that we now use in our daily lives. We chat about the many languages we need to speak to bridge the divide between science, conservation, business, and finance.

I talk about my University of Cambridge dissertation that uses storytelling to connect climate entrepreneurs developing nature-based solutions with family offices looking for new investment opportunities that deliver a financial return and have a higher purpose.

I also share stories about my journey to overcome cancer, and how learning to heal my own body helped better prepare me to heal the planet. One of them I’m sharing publicly for the first time — how lying in a hospital bed seriously ill from chemotherapy helped me realize the immensity of the plastic waste problem and made me even more determined to do something about it.

I’m so grateful to Nicky for having me on the podcast. Our conversation happened just days after the passing of my sweet soul dog, Phineas, one of the worst losses of my life. Talking to Nicky helped me begin to heal and honor him. I’m so grateful for that. Let us know what you think of the episode.

I’m excited for the day when I’ll get to Devon, give her a hug, and walk through her garden with her. Nicky has a wonderful website and newsletter at https://www.hawksdawn.co.uk/ that I highly recommend. You can also find her on Instagram @nickyjenner_hawksdown posting gorgeous pictures of nature along with inspiring quotes and stories.

creativity

I became a monthly donor to 15/10 Foundation

Christa Avampato
Honoring Phinny through 15/10 Foundation. Painting of Phin under the cherry blossoms by Ashley Semrick.

My rescue dog, Phineas, was my writing buddy and he inspired the character of Friday in my Emerson Page novels. To honor him as part of my book launch, I pledged to make a donation to 15/10 Foundation for every person who attended the launch party. Because you packed the room, I became a monthly donor to help shelter dogs who have medical challenges get the care they need to restore their health and be adopted into their forever homes. I know Phinny would be so happy to help other rescue dogs like him. Every time that monthly donation happens, his spirit will shine a little brighter. Learn more about 15/10 Foundation and the incredible dogs they help at https://15outof10.org

creativity

The single best thing you can do to help book authors

Christa Avampato
My New York City book launch party for Emerson Page and Where the Light Leads. Photo by Jane Bakes Baczynski.

I’m truly horrible at asking for help so please bear with me on this post. The support and love that poured out of people on Friday night for the book launch party has me smiling so much that my cheeks hurt! All night people kept asking me how they can help. So here goes! The most helpful thing for any book is a star rating or review on Amazon. The more rating it gets, the more likely Amazon is to recommend the book to people. If that’s something you’d be willing to do, I’d be beyond grateful. Here’s a direct link: https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/edit?asin=B0CTG9P6GM

My heart and spirit are so full after an incredible book launch event and weekend. Friends and readers from far and near arrived by trains, planes, and automobiles to be there and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all your love and support. You are all a gift and I’m beyond grateful for every one of you. To have people from every chapter of my life altogether packed into the space overwhelmed me in the best way.

A big thank you to Matt Misetich for being my conversation partner.

Thank you Jane Bakes Baczynski for this photo. I was so focused on making sure everyone at the event had fun that I didn’t take a single picture!