My latest post on Owning Pink is up: “Okcupid tells me that now the world is my oyster“
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.
Changethis.com accepted my e-book
Changethis.com accepted my e-book, Hope in Progress. Voting has begun. Would love your support and it only takes a click! http://ow.ly/29ku6
Step 189: A Good Enough Day Job
I went out last night with a friend of mine and we got on the subject of day jobs, a job someone has that financially supports their pursuit of interests that may have nothing to do with how they earn their paycheck. I’m passionate about writing, yoga, and teaching, and I’m slowly working my way toward making more of my income from those sources. In the mean time, my student loan collectors require payment so it’s off to work (at a day job) I go.
Lately, I’ve been feeling a little badly about my day job situation, wanting to make more of my income from activities that I’m truly passionate about. My friend whom I spoke with last night is a tremendously gifted writer and comedian. She’s a freelancer who makes her living as a content strategist and project manager. She’s found her freelancing work gratifying enough to make her living, and not too taxing so that she has plenty of energy and creativity to pour into her writing and comedy. She has such clarity about the role of her day job in her life, and her attitude made me feel much better about my own situation. Making a living from a passion takes time, and that’s okay.
I thought about my friend in light of the many statistics that I read about the job satisfaction of Americans. These stats only look at day jobs. They don’t account for the real passions of American workers, which may be far different from the jobs where they earn their paychecks.
Everyone owes it to themselves to have a passion. If you can turn that passion into a career, then make sure to applaud your ingenuity and efforts. And if for a while you need a day job to keep those passions alive, know that you’re not alone. There are plenty of us in that same boat. Some people find that they prefer this arrangement, that they want their passion to stay their passion rather than tying a paycheck to it that may diminish their enjoyment of it. It’s all about finding the balance between work and passion that works for you, and that’s something that we all control individually.
Step 188: Routines and Rituals
For most of my life, I have fought routine. I thought routine would make me boring. I thought routines were a waste of time and lacked creativity. That changed when I started writing every day about 3 years ago. I’ve liked writing stories since I was a little kid, but I never really made a routine out of it. I just wrote when the inspiration hit me.
Later in life, I realized that practice makes better. Even with natural talent, practice is a necessity for mastery. And I wanted to be a master writer, so I set myself on the path to writing every day no matter how tired or uninspired I felt. I went to the screen or the notebook, and recorded some thought. Like a physical muscle, my writing chops improved considerably. I look back at some of my early blog posts and laugh at how bad they were. I think this is healthy – laughter and the realization that practice does indeed help.
I noticed a marked change in my writing about two years ago. I could write more quickly and with greater clarity. My mind started making connections and developing deeper insights. My readership started growing too, because I was promoting my writing and also because my content improved considerably with daily practice. My writing routine crossed the line into ritual, becoming not a chore, but a pleasure I looked forward to. And writing made my life easier because it helped me make sense of even the most complicated, messy situations.
This morning on my way to work, I began to consider other routines that I could develop into rituals with more practice. I’ve started taking a nicer route to my office. I meditate every day. I do at least 10 minutes of yoga every day, even if that means just a few sun salutations or seated postures. I love to watch CBS Sunday morning with my coffee and the paper. I’m thinking of finally getting a dog in New York, and that care will develop a routine of its own.
Routine isn’t the boring, tired-out activity I once saw it as. It’s what gives our lives purpose and focus and very often, peace.
Do you have routines that have become rituals, or are you starting some new routines in your life? I’d love to hear about them!
I found the above cartoon here.
Step 187: A Greece Recap
I’m finally back from Greece! Despite 24 hours of flight cancellations, delays, security issues at the Charles de Gaulle airport, and too-long lines for luggage and customs, I prevailed and made it back in one piece. I wasn’t actually home until today but the fact that I’m not still in Athens (thank you, Air France) is somewhat of a miracle. I feel like I’ve been away for a month.
The yoga retreat was entirely different than anything I expected it to be. Greece is beautiful and I practiced with a group that has many more years of yoga experience than I do. Most of them are teachers so I was able to get to the edge of my practice every day. I did write in my notebook daily, though I have to admit I really didn’t enjoy the unplugging. I missed being on this blog every day and interacting with my on-line pals.
In Greece, I did learn quite a bit about myself, and for that I’m extraordinarily grateful. The retreat environment is interesting, though I have to admit that I am so happy to get back to my life. Here are the lessons I reflected on each day that lead me a bit closer to an extraordinary life:
Step 179 – June 28th:
Life is a balance of being and becoming. Too often I get hung up on where I am or where I’m trying to go. The key is to balance out the two on a daily basis.
Step 180 – June 29th:
If you let go, you will float. We had a boat and swimming trip in the Caldera just off the coast of Santorini. I was nervous about it because I only learned to swim a few years ago and feel very uncomfortable in the open water. No one in my family swims so the open water is not a natural medium for me, despite my love of being near the ocean. In Santorini, I put myself into the open water, trusted I could swim, and be okay. And I was. I trembled and released my grip on the shore and swam in those crystal blue waters. I let go of fear and disappointment and the need to know exactly what would happen. I learned that if I give myself the space, I will rise.
Step 181 – June 30th:
Knowing what not to do is helpful. There were some things that I loved about the retreat, and some things that I really didn’t like at all. At first, I grew very disappointed with some experiences on the retreat, and then I realized that these disappointments were tremendous opportunities for learning. They taught me how to be a better teacher, and ultimately if I end up ever organizing a retreat of some kind, I’ll keep this list of “do-not-do”s handy.
Step 182 – July 1st:
Take unexpected invitations. I met a fantastic group of women that I think I’ll be doing some traveling with in the future. I was loping home from practice one afternoon, exhausted, when I was greeted by one of my fellow yoginis on Santorini’s main drag. She was going to dinner with a few others and asked if I wanted to go, too. I was planning on just slinking back to my room, and instead took the kind offer for dinner. So glad I did. We ended up going on a fun road trip around the island, hanging out at the local beaches, and swimming in the ocean. Their presence made my retreat so much better!
Step 183 – July 2nd:
While I enjoy vacations, I love my life. After a few days, I grew tired of the oppressive afternoon heat and the split shift yoga sessions. Santorini is beautiful but it didn’t hold my attention for long. I found myself re-invigorated about living in NYC, something I very much needed. I met a woman from France who explained that she has 9 weeks of vacation and she spends all of the others weeks looking forward to and planning vacations. Sad. 80% of her life is lived for the other 20%. I never want to have that. If 80% of my life isn’t working for me, I need to change something in that 80%.
Step 184 – July 3rd:
I really am a city mouse now. I grew up in the country surrounded by trees and grass and squirrels. I loved it, though now I’m glad I live in a vibrant, dynamic city with loads of variety. The city is the place for me, and that was helpful to learn. Santorini was beautiful, but Athens made me feel alive.
Step 185 – July 4th:
Yoga is a path whose ultimate destination is a happy, fulfilling life. If I can use yoga to improve the lives of others, I’ll be thrilled. And if I find that someday yoga doesn’t make me happy, then I’ll stop doing it. On the retreat, I found that I have no interest in being the world’s most flexible, accomplished yoga superstar. I have no desire to devote my entire being to everything yoga and nothing else. Some people do, and I support them in that quest. For me, it’s a tool and a way to let the light into my life in great quantities, just like my writing and the people I Iove.
Step 186 – July 5th:
You don’t have to take what you’re given. The powers that be at Delta airlines told me I’d get home on Thursday, two days from now. I spent hours running back and forth between Delta and Air France trying to get a flight back to New York City yesterday. There were a lot of hurdles, starts, and stops. And for some reason, despite the long lines and constant stream of no’s, I kept persisting and it paid off. It took me over 24 hours to get from Athens to New York, but I made it. If we really want to get home, we can always find our way.
I hope you had a lovely week and holiday weekend. I’m back in full writing force, and so grateful to be here with you.
Step 178: Greek Expectations
“The proper response to a great work of art is to enter into it as though there were nothing else in the world.” ~ Huston Smith, religious scholar, on the occasion of his 90th birthday
I’m leaving for the airport in a few hours to head to Santorini, Greece for a yoga retreat with Shiva Rea. Because I’ve never been on a yoga retreat, I’m a little nervous about what I may find. Is it really a personal journey or is it a collective group journey? Is it both, and if so, where is the line? Is my purpose to connect with others or to tap into my own sense of well-being?
In preparation for my trip to Greece, I stopped into the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art yesterday. They have a set of exhibits now that reflect many of yoga’s historical and spiritual teachings that I studied while in my training program. There were Kali and Durga and Shiva. There were the familiar and powerful lotus and warrior asanas. The sculptures that truly captured my attention depicted Vasudhara, the Buddhist goddess of abundance.
“She is beautiful, isn’t she?” said a voice behind me.
George, a museum guide, appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He must have noticed how taken I was with the Vasudhara statue. With his kind eyes and seemingly unlimited knowledge of Hinduism and Buddhism, George walked me through the exhibit on the 3rd floor, giving me historical context, explaining the casting process of the sculptures, and describing the meaning of the intricate details of each piece. He closed out impromptu tour by explaining that Heaven and Hell are not considered destinations to Hindus and Buddhists; they are within. They are a daily choice.
I thought about that idea as I walked through the other floors of the exhibit. A question came to me as I looked at some of the other installations. I went back down to the 3rd floor to ask George about it. He was gone. Nowhere to be found (and the Rubin Museum is a very small museum with nowhere to hide.) It’s possible he went on break or maybe his shift was over.
For a second, I thought maybe he had been placed there just for me. He showed up just when I needed him, even though I didn’t know that I needed him, and he enriched my experience. Our encounter showed me that it’s possible to be on your own road and still connect to others in a meaningful way. Maybe the two are not separate at all. Just show up with everything we’ve got, as if there is nothing else in front of us except this next step, and see what we find. A little real-time foreshadowing for what’s to come in Greece? I hope so!
I’ll be off the grid while I’m away. I’ll be writing every day in my notebook and sharing those experiences when I return on July 5th. Να είναι καλά!
Step 177: June Accomplishments and July Goals
Another month has come and gone. I’m tempted to say, “how did that happen so fast?” though these monthly accomplishment / goal posts keep me from thinking time is just slipping by. It’s flying but we’re all flying with it. Because I’m leaving for Greece tomorrow, I’m posting this monthly ritual post a bit early.
June goals turned accomplishments:
1.) Complete my e-book based upon my Examiner.com column on entrepreneurship. The book will feature the most inspiring entrepreneurs I interviewed during my 15 months writing for Examiner.
There was much rejoicing in my tiny apartment on Sunday, June 20th, when I dotted the last “i” and crossed the last “t” on my first e-book, Hope in Progress: 27 Entrepreneurs Who Inspired Me During the Great Recession. I organized their stories by categories: Foodies, Artists, Healers, Advisors, and Jumpers. The book is available as a free PDF download (which you can also access by clicking the book’s cover in the right hand column of this blog) or for $5 in the Kindle store (which can be viewed on your Kindle, or iPad / iPhone when you download the free Kindle app. You can leave a review of the book on Amazon.com if you’re so inclined, even if you don’t buy the book there.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for supporting me and cheering me on through the process. I’m ridiculously grateful!
2.) Enjoy every moment in Greece without thinking about any stresses from home. I will be entirely off the grid during that week. I will write ahead for this blog and schedule posts – with modern technology, no need to let the blog waves grind to a halt while I’m soaking in the sun! Rest assured, I will be writing every day from the mountains of Santorini and share all of my adventures here on this blog once I return in early July!
This one’s interesting. I’m leaving for Greece tomorrow and I had planned to write ahead. I’ve decided to change that and not write ahead. The whole idea of this year of writing is to take one step every day toward living an extraordinary life. I don’t know what that step will be until I get to that day. So rather than write ahead, I promise you all of the fabulous steps and details once I return. I will be writing every day, with a pen in a notebook – something I have not done in a very long time.
3.) Plan another trip to Florida to welcome my new little niece into the world. She is due June 22nd.
Done! I worried about taking the time off from work almost right after I return from Greece. Silly. 5 years from now, I’m not going to care who at work thought my vacation pattern was weird in the summer of 2010. I will care that I got to spend time with my new niece, Aubree, when she was only a month old. She was born on June 22nd and she’s gorgeous and perfect and we love her to pieces!
4.) Apply for my International Yoga Alliance certification once I have my teacher-training certificate from Sonic in-hand.
I got all of my exams and papers in, and my hours logged. The membership card should be happily nestled in my mailbox when I return from Greece. And then I’ll hopping on the Shakti Express, looking for teaching gigs!
5.) Kick-off my Owning Pink column on relationships, and spend more time on my personal life (which fell a bit to the wayside because of my crazy May schedule.)
I rarely write about relationships here on this blog. I don’t avoid the topic; I just never really know what to say about it in the context of this blog. The fine and gifted team over at Owning Pink asked me to specifically write on this topic for their site and I’m thrilled about it. I write about 2X a month and post the links to this blog. Check it out here. You can also click the Owning Pink icon in the right hand column of this blog. And I picked up the dating baton again this month. I’m enjoying the search!
July Goals:
1.) Soak up the sun in Greece and enjoy every second of my teacher training time with Shiva Rea.
2.) Meet my little niece, Aubree, and hang with my sis and older niece, Lorelei.
3.) Begin actively looking for a weekly yoga class to teach in NYC at an established gym or studio.
4.) Begin thinking about my next e-book. (I’m taking suggestions!)
5.) Continue prep work for my LIM College class that I will start teaching in the Fall: Viral, Guerilla, and Social Media Marketing.
6.) Do some marketing of my e-book.
I’d love to hear how June went for you and what you’re looking forward to in July!
Step 176: My First Book Is Complete
It’s with much excitement that I have self-published my first book – Hope in Progress: 27 Entrepreneurs Who Inspired Me During the Great Recession. It’s a collection of interviews with entrepreneurs that I conducted while writing for Examiner.com. There are two ways to get the book:
Download a free PDF from this blog
Download the book to your Kindle or via the Kindle app to your iPad or iPhone
Download from Slideshare
I’d love to know what you think! The Kindle store and Slideshare accept written reviews and ratings if you’re so inclined.
Thanks to so many who supported my writing over the years as I got these stories down. It’s been a long time coming. These interviews mean a great deal to me and I hope they inspire you to get going on your own dreams. Cheers!
Step 175: My First College Teaching Gig This Fall at LIM College
In January, I spoke to my friend, Trevin, about my desire to teach in a college setting. At that point I was still considering a PhD program because I thought that would be the surest way to teach at a college. Trevin, now a college professor, in his infinite kindness offered to connect me to a friend and mentor of his at LIM (Laboratory Institute of Merchandising) College in New York. He thought his friend may be able to offer me some advice.
Trevin’s friend offered to take a look at my resume. He said at the time that there wasn’t a teaching position at LIM that matched my background though he’d keep my resume on file should anything come up. He mentioned that I may be a good fit for the Marketing Department so he’d keep an eye out for me. I thanked him profusely and archived the emails. Several months later, the head of the Marketing Department at LIM asked me if I’d come in to the school to meet him. He wanted to offer a class on social media in the Fall and thought I might be interested.
I went into the school, had my interview, and we talked about social media – where it might be going (anyone who says they know for certain where we’re heading is bluffing), how students could learn from the platforms available, and how brands can and should measure the results of social media campaigns. After a wonderful morning, I felt confident that this might have real potential, that I could actually teach in the subject area I’m most interested in without needing a PhD at all. We went back and forth on email over the following months, and then we seemed to reach a scheduling impasse. I thought the opportunity had died on the vine.
And then something really incredible happened. I sat down and really thought about how I’d feel in 5 years if I passed up this opportunity now, and no matter how I turned it over in my mind, I knew in my gut that turning down the opportunity was the wrong choice. (Brian’s proud of me for trusting my gut more often these days.) So I went back, worked out my scheduling conflicts, LIM compromised a bit on my behalf, and voila, problem solved. Compromise only results if we’re really honest about what’s most important to us.
This coming Fall I’ll joining LIM’s faculty as an adjunct professor, my first college teacher role (hopefully one of many). I will be teaching a class entitled Viral, Guerilla, and Social Media Marketing. (I can’t take any credit for the title, but I do love it!) The Marketing Chair and I are working out a cool curriculum, and are uber-excited to see how it all pans out. There’s magic in trusting our gut and going for what we want.
Step 174: Yoga Just Means Union
On Tuesday, my friend Sara and I headed to Central Park for Flavorpill’s attempt to break the record for the largest organized yoga class ever held. Sara and I chatted throughout the hour-long wait: spirituality, school loans, and every topic in-between. The time passed quickly. I imagined us on the Great Lawn, doing our sun salutations actually to the sun, breathing together, OMing together. Yoga done anywhere is an amazing experience. Yoga done outside is glorious.
Except when it rains, and rain it did. If it weren’t for the slipping on yoga mats, I may have wanted Flavorpill to stick it out and have us practice through the rain. At first it was just a light sprinkle so we pushed through. Then the torrential downpour started. Literally buckets of rain. Everyone went running, grabbing extra mats and snacks, pushing, poking others with their feeble umbrellas. Apparently yogic behavior doesn’t always survive the rain.
I was just trying to dodge through the crowd to reach the west side of the park. I didn’t much care about getting wet – once you’re soaked, you actually get more soaked – I just don’t like the feeling of being trapped in a giant crowd. While bobbing and weaving (and cursing a little inside my head), I passed by a man on arm crutches. He looked to have cerebral palsy. There he was, plodding along, not complaining, not taking any extra mats or snacks or bags the way so many others were.
At first I rushed past the man and said a little prayer for him. After a few more steps I thought, “Christa, now that’s a lousy thing to do.” I pulled over to the side and waited a few seconds for him to catch up.
“Would you like to share my umbrella?” I asked him.
He smiled the most beautiful smile, and said, “Oh no. I’m fine in the rain, but thanks for asking. No one ever asks.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “I don’t mind at all.”
“No but thank you, really. That’s very nice of you,” he replied.
I walked a little more slowly now and held that interaction in my mind. His smile was the sunshine I had come to the Park looking for. I didn’t need a mat to do a sun salutation. Yoga is lived as much as it is practiced.
