I tell wonder-filled stories about hope and healing
When we think about forces on Earth that are powerful, I can’t think of one stronger than love. In all its forms from all of its sources, it can transform anything and anyone if it’s allowed to do the work it can do so well. It multiplies when we give it away. It performs miracles in the blink of an eye. It makes everything and everyone it touches better. The best thing we can do for others is to love them. And the best thing we can do for ourselves is to let love in.
Last week I went to a house party and was struck by a piece of art in the host’s entry way. It was a paper collage made of torn magazines that depicted the famous National Geographic photograph of a young girl in Afghanistan. It’s one of my favorite photographs of all time and this torn paper version brought it to life in a whole new way. I love how the artists took a found object we all have piled up in our homes and turned it into something brand new.
Inspired by the piece, I started to look through my giant stack of magazines and separate the pages by their primary color. I felt an urge to tear the paper to pieces and put it back together in a whole new way. I started googling how-to on paper collage and chose a few images on which to model a collage of my own. I even picked out a space to hang it on my apartment wall.
Sometimes art just grabs you and won’t let you go until you do something about it. That’s how I feel about this collage project. I’ll share a picture of it when it’s done.
Whenever I feel the need to get away from it all, I lose myself in art. Photographs, paintings, books, theater, music, writing. Any or all of that transports me to somewhere new. It provides an escape that helps me find my way. Art lets me leave my troubles behind, at least for a while. It clears my head and my heart by opening my eyes and ears to a new world of possibilities.
“I am obsessed with becoming a woman comfortable in her own skin.” ~Sandra Cisnero
There is something to be said for rising up, confident in who we are and what we believe in despite the opinions of others. Washington is a town of conviction. It’s also a place where people are tightly wound and a bit too conscious of The Rules. A lot of people here aren’t comfortable in their own skin. They barely know what that concept means. They are busy striving to be someone other than who they are.
But that’s changing. There are growing pockets of people gathering with the purpose of breaking molds and embracing authenticity. It’s one reason I love my gritty neighborhood so much. There are people here who care more about heart and less about appearance, who value people over possessions. This is me and these are my people. I’m finding them at work and Meetups, in art classes, museums, and cafes, on the metro and the streets of the neighborhoods where I spend many hours wandering.
And if I do nothing else in my time here, I hope I can help more people find out who they really are, what they care about, and why we all matter.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that Oliver Sacks changed my life. His work and books showed me that curiosity is a gift that we must use, cherish, and never limit. He is and always will be my example of a life well-lived. He passed away early this morning in his home in New York City, and his obituary as well as his many decades of writing are worth reading over and over again. Rest in peace to a doctor and writer who embodied the very essence of passion and grace.
“You are not responsible for fixing everything that is broken…It’s time to replenish.”
My yoga teacher, Cheri, posted this quote this week and it really resonated with me. I was in the midst of a wild week and a replenishing weekend seemed light years away. Now that it’s here, I plan to take full advantage of it through art, writing, music, resting, exploring, and laughing.
We are all adults, and adults are equipped to create and be responsible for their own happiness. Here’s our only charge: to make sure we are well-cared for so that we can be at our best to make the most of what comes our way.
“Saying ‘yes’ begins things. Saying ‘yes’ is how things grow.” ~Stephen Colbert
Yes, I’ll have the conversation. Yes, I’ll try this and see how it goes. Yes, I’ll work on this. These are powerful statements that foster our learning. Every great adventure starts with yes. It’s the recognition that we are willing to be present, to have an experience that will somehow change us. Everything I’ve ever done in my life that I’m truly proud of started with those three little letters. What’s your greatest yes moment?
I watched Jimmy Carter’s press conference about his cancer diagnosis. The statement of his that struck me the most was his philosophy about expectations: hope for the best and accept what comes. It’s a beautiful way to live. Watch his full press conference through the link below:
“Live the full life of the mind, exhilarated by new ideas, intoxicated by the romance of the unusual.” ~Ernest Hemingway
I’ve been in my job for almost 4 months and in D.C. for 6 months. Now that I’m getting my groove back, I’m going to spend the Fall exploring. Here’s what I’ll be up to:
What new things are you trying this Fall?
A few days ago I got an email that really irked me. I had worked hard on a project and written a thoughtful response to advise someone who asked me to examine a company he’s thinking of buying. Though delivered professionally and courteously, I knew that the news I was giving him was not the news he wanted. I couldn’t in good conscience advise him to buy the company. From the data and from my gut, I know he’ll regret the choice to buy it if he moves ahead. Rather than taking the advice, he felt the need to criticize my analysis in a snarky way.
At first, I was upset about his response and then I had to let it go. I had done the job I was asked to do. I was honest and careful in my analysis, and now he can either take the advice or not. Rather than wasting energy being upset about his email, I plowed the energy into my own creative work. And that was the very best thing I could do. We live, and we learn.
Christa Avampato 