Author: 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.
choices, decision-making

Leap: Sacrifice is Another Word for Investment

Christa Avampato

Whenever we’re working on something big, something bigger than we think we’re capable of doing, we have to make trade-offs. We give up some time, some flexibility, some funds, maybe even some fun activities that we would otherwise do.

In times like this, I find it’s most helpful to think of sacrifice as investment rather than loss. It’s really a transfer of energy. We give up a bit now to work toward achieving something tomorrow that will help us fulfill our purpose. Investment causes us to re-prioritize, and that re-prioritization implies change. Change is never easy, even when it’s welcomed. There is always a period of adjustment.

Be kind to yourself in these times of transition. Understand that what you give up today pales in comparison to the joy and satisfaction of realizing a dream. Recognize that we always have a choice, and in making these investments we are living up to the responsibility of carving our own path.

Let it unfold. Give it the time it needs to show its true and full value. There will be plenty of time for reflecting on and judging the choice. Now, commit to making the most of it and giving it the very best shot at success.

teaching

Leap: We All Teach

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/argylestyle/

“Read to learn, write to understand, teach to master.” – Yogi Tea

I am passionate about teaching – whatever we know, whatever we practice, whatever we preach, I believe we should teach it so we can pass it on. Some of the people I’m most grateful for in my life have been my teachers. As of late, I’ve begun to expand my definition of teacher.

Someone doesn’t need to be standing in front of a classroom of any kind to be a teacher. We teach in the moments that we’re on the subway, as we’re picking up our morning coffee, as we’re grocery shopping. In the quiet moments of every day life, at those times when we aren’t aware that anyone is looking to us, we teach our most authentic lessons. How we act in each moment has the potential to teach someone something. It’s a gift we always have to give. Give wisely.

creativity, yoga

Leap: The Hands are the Vehicle of the Heart

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/marface/

This is the first full weekend of my advanced yoga teacher training at ISHTA. The days are long but invigorating. My eyes are already opening to new ways of seeing and my heart is already opening to a new way of being.

As we were learning about the 7 segments of the body that correspond to the chakras. The hands and the heart live within the same chakra. The hands deliver what the heart wishes to create, whether that creation is a hug, a cake, a home, a letter, a painting. Whatever the heart wishes, the hands convey.

The saying “made with love” is more than just a nice cliche. It’s the mechanism by which everything every we make comes into being. What are you building?

childhood

Leap: Back to Basics

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/tehviv/

This photo from Pinterest put a smile on my face.

When I was little, we didn’t have air conditioning in my home. Instead we had a giant square fan that roared as it blew air (mostly hot air) throughout the first floor of our home. My sister, Weez, and I used to sit in front of it and let the sounds of our voices shine through it. They’d reverberate back to us with a distinctly robotic sound which made us giggle.

As Spring begins to sweep the country, it’s time to think about looking back into our beginnings. It’s time to think about what really delights us, what makes us feel alive in the simplest and purest form. It’s time to get back to our roots because everything else we value in our lives today comes from that humble start when we were a blank slate, when life was a white canvas just waiting for color. Make sure you’re still the artist you set out to be.

courage, integrity, yoga

Leap: The Real Problem with Yoga (and It’s a Wonderful Problem to Have)

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/adrianaclonts/

I went to an event yesterday and in all of the ending hoopla, the organizer asked everyone to join him in signing up for his new mission. To be entirely fair, I applaud people who put themselves out there and clearly explain who they are, what they care about, and what they intend to do. I wish more people were as transparent as this organizer.

That said, I didn’t sign. I actually left the event early. I was criticized a bit for it, but I didn’t mind. I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do. While I respect the transparency of this organizer, we just aren’t on the same page. Our values don’t fall in line together so I know our roads will be taking different directions.

A few years ago, my former boss and mentor, Bob G., said something that I think about almost every day. “You always get to choose what bus you want to be on.” The problem with deeply studying yoga is that it leads us to deeply study ourselves – who we are when we strip away every title, every accomplishment (and failure), every relationship, every part of our history. Yoga is about knowing our true essence, about knowing the company we keep in the empty moments. And in this intense study, we find that we can only be true to our heart. We cannot be on a bus that we don’t want to ride. Our bodies and minds literally don’t allow it.

Yoga forces us to return to our true home, to the place where we belong in a very deep and meaningful way. We lose the ability to fake it. We lose the ability to lie, to ourselves and to anyone else. All we can do is live the truth, our truth. We can’t conform to someone else’s expectations. All we can do is live up to our own.

It’s a wonderful problem to have, but it’s not always the easiest path to walk. And instead of lamenting the difficulty, I encourage you to embrace it. Look in, way in, and see what’s there. Get on the path and walk it. It’s the only way forward.

adventure, career, decision-making, determination, inspiration

Leap: A Daily Can-Do Mantra

Christa Avampato

I found this image on Pinterest. I immediately hung it up at my desk to read out loud any time I get scared as I begin this new adventure to merge my career with my personal values. It makes me feel strong. I hope it helps you, too.

art, creativity

Leap: We the Artists, the Pathmakers

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/susanjenkins/

“The artist is not a special kind of person; rather each person is a special kind of artist.” ~ Ananda Coomaraswamy

It’s what we’re all looking for – a way to find our art, our own unique expression of who we are, where we belong, and why. I believe we are born with our art within us and the purpose of our days is to bring it to life, in full color, for all the world to see.

Our karma and our dharma, our path, is our art. Where does it go? Who will share our path with us? How far does it extend and what shape will it take? These are all questions that we have the freedom and responsibility to answer clearly, succinctly, and authentically. And if we don’t answer these questions for ourselves, then someone else will do it for us.

Don’t let anyone steal your thunder. Go out there and claim the life that is yours. It is a celebration of who we are on the very deepest of levels. We are our art, and our art is made along the path we build.

Spring, yoga

Leap: My 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training at ISHTA Yoga Begins Today

Christa Avampato
Ommmmmmmm....From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/zasra/

The first day of Spring marks the first day of my yoga teacher training at ISHTA Yoga. The Spring equinox symbolizes balance, rebirth, color, life. It’s a new chapter after the long rest of winter. This is a new beginning for me in so many ways – a new career direction, a renewed commitment to my practice, a new community, a new dream brought into clear focus.

As with my first two sets of yoga teacher training, I know there will so many lessons along path on the mat and off. I am so grateful for the readership and community of this blog. You’ve been there to share and support this journey and at this new juncture I promise to share everything that’s to come.

Namaste and happy Spring!

 

creativity, goals, learning

Leap: One Picture a Day

Christa Avampato
A picture I took on my first day of my "a picture a day" - daffodils in Union Square, low contrast color setting

For Christmas, my family gave me cash and Amazon gift certificates so that I could put that money toward getting a new digital camera. My old one started to develop its quirks and had been put to goo use for many years. Because I know India will be filled with gorgeous photo opportunities, I wanted to make sure I had a camera that was up to the challenge.

After much research I settled on a Nikon S9100. It’s a bit more camera than I know how to use, but I got such a good deal that I went for it. Though I’ve read the manual, I’ve been reluctant to use anything but the auto mode. The multitude of options served as a great big hurdle and for some reason I was afraid to jump. Irrational, but truthful.

I was recanting this story to my friend, Amy, when she gave me one simple piece of advice. “Take one picture a day, every day. It’s small so you can carry with you everywhere. Take a picture without being concerned with how it turns out. Just choose a setting, snap, and see how it goes.” It’s one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever heard about photography. It’s also a wonderful guiding principle for life.

Take a big goal and break it down, day by day, frame by frame. Take it, watch, and learn. Practice is for its own sake.

adventure, change, choices, commitment, courage, creativity, passion

Leap: Stop Buying Ice and Start Living

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/denizyildiz/

I recently had a small group of people over to my house. As I was drafting up my grocery / to-do list, I wrote down “buy ice.” And then I started laughing. I have a freezer. I have ice cube trays. Did I really need to buy ice? No – I had everything I needed. I just had to take the time to fill the trays with water a few times and then crack the ice into a bowl.

We play this game with ourselves all the time. We put off doing what we really want to do because we need more – more training, more money, more contacts, more experience, more time. We have enough. We are enough. We have everything we need to get going right now. Sure, it’s scary. It’s a risk to let go of the familiar, to go off the well-planned, well-worn path. But that’s all it is – scary. It’s not impossible and we’re not incapable in any way. It’s going to take work but we can make it happen.

So many people have stories of a breaking point – an illness, a loss, a tragedy – that awakened them to the passion of their lives. I certainly do. All of a sudden we realize in a very real, non-negotiable way that our lives are finite, that we only get one time around in this form, and that it’s our obligation and deep responsibility to make the most of it.

Don’t wait for the breaking point. Breathe in and breathe out. The anticipation of leaping is much scarier than the leap itself. So gather up your courage and know that whatever you need to get your dreams to take flight, you already have. “Sometimes you just have to take a leap and build your wings on the way down.” (Kobi Yamada)