Category: creativity

change, charity, community, creativity, peace

Leap: Google Teaches Us How to Create World Peace and Other Circumstances of Goodness

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/sconlon1978/

The New York Times ran a story over the weekend about Google’s efforts to increase mindfulness among its employees. The story, Ok, Google, Take a Deep Breath, featured Chade-Meng Tan (Meng), an engineer at Google and the creator of the Google team course, “Search Inside Yourself.” I clicked the link to watch a sample class on YouTube and I was both disappointed and annoyed.

Meng explains that he wanted to see a dramatic shift in world towards peace. Given the company’s policy to let all employees work on personal areas of research for a certain percentage of their work hours, Meng decided that the best investment of his time would come from figuring out how to generate world peace. It’s an insightful idea. What I hated about it was his conclusion that to get individuals and companies to care about world peace, we have to help them understand what’s in it for them. Meng went on to explain that no one is going to create peace just because it’s a good thing for society. They have to get something out of it on a personal level before they care about peace. We need to tap into people’s individual needs that make the objective of world peace an inevitable by-product. 

Gross.

I hate that conclusion. Is that what we’ve amounted to? A collection of 6 billion bodies who only care about themselves? I stewed on that as I ate my lunch, determined to prove that though Meng may be a very bright engineer, his conclusion on how to bring about peace was unfounded.

I couldn’t. I got more annoyed.

Thankfully, my post from yesterday on the value of having our personal philosophies unsettled was still top of mind. Why did Meng’s conclusion, one that I had a hard time refuting, bother me so much and what could I learn from it? Could I apply it to my own work? Was I already subconsciously already applying it to my own work?

A New York Times column that Thomas Friedman wrote for after 9/11. In it he explained that, “If you don’t visit a bad neighborhood, it will visit you. “ In other words, get out there and do something that’s good for you and good for others. The trick we have to benefit individually as much as we do collectively in order to get community efforts and acts of goodwill to be sustainable.

Environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility really took off when companies realized they could benefit financially and in terms of customer and employee loyalty. In these efforts, the win-win is what tipped the scales. We are beginning to see these same seeds planted in healthcare. Our current healthcare system is no longer sustainable, so we are beginning to see more emphasis on preventative health measures that give people a way to be well before they ever get sick. The same is true in education. We are beginning to see a proliferation of new channels for learning because entrepreneurs realized that they could profit from disrupting the traditional education system.

In all these examples, the answer to the question “what’s in it for me?” came into balance with the answer to the question “why is this good for society?” We need both side of the equation to really make an impact. Thanks, Meng, for stating the cold, hard facts, for not letting us let ourselves off the hook, and for showing us that we can make a positive impact on humanity by truly understanding humanity.

Incidentally, Fast Company ran an article this week with a similar conclusion, stated a little bit more diplomatically. Another solid, if philosophically unsettling, read. 3 Tips for Making an Abstract Idea Relatable to Everyone, Not Just Geeks. 

change, creativity

Leap: Change in the Air, and My Email In-box

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

Universe, I hear you. The theme of change continues to show up in my life on a very regular basis. And my regular I mean hourly.

My Monday post, We Have to Let Go to Be Free, was about the acceptance and release of emotions to generate transformation. At its essence, this idea gets at what it means to change. We fully believe in change; we crave it; we just have a hard time changing ourselves.

Just after my post went live,  I got 3 emails that fell in line with this sentiment of change:

One on the state of French politics: “The situation is so catastrophic that whoever wins it won’t make much difference. The French want change but only on the condition that it doesn’t change anything for them.” ~ Marie-Claude Noel, 72, who said she voted for France’s president, Nicolas Sarkozy, in the first round of presidential election

One from Mary McManus, a lovely yogi and reader of this blog who wrote the following comment on my Monday post: “This was the theme in my yoga classes this weekend. Love the synchronicity. Love how you so eloquently and succinctly wrote about your experience. Detachment and freedom — it’s so amazing when we let go and feel that freedom creating the space for our Spirit to dance and sing our life song. Here is my blog post about the very same theme — enjoy!”

One from DailyGood: “People don’t resist change. They resist being changed!” ~ Peter Senge

The collective message is clear: What we wish to see manifested on a large-scale must first be manifested on a personal scale.

This idea caused me to really think long and hard about the mechanics of change. It comes down to personal responsibility and the willingness to make an internal shift. My friend, Michael, is an incredible example of someone who wants to see a massive shift in the way we live on and care for our planet. He’s passionate about the sustainability movement and has constructed his life to create as small a carbon footprint as possible. His life is about people and experience, not about the accumulation of tangible stuff. His personal dedication to changing himself and his lifestyle inspires me and challenges me to constantly think about my own dedication to change.

What are you willing to change about your own life to bring about a larger societal change? Can you walk the walk?

creativity

Congratulations to In Blue and Sara – the Newest Members of Underground Eats

Christa Avampato

I’m having a great time running contests for all of the wonderful readers and contributors to this blog. The latest one for an invitation to Underground Eats has two winners – In Blue and Sara. Congratulations ladies! Your invites are their way to your inboxes.

Thanks to everyone for playing!

career, creativity, time, work

Leap: What I’m Doing With My Time After I Take the Plunge

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

“You’re leaving? What are you going to do?” (Said with an exotic mix of terror, awe, and confusion with a hint of frustration and a healthy handful of ‘I’ll-believe-it-when-I-see-it’.)

This is a fairly common response I’m getting as I begin to make my plans for Leap Day known. To be fair, I also have a tremendous number of wonderful people in my life who couldn’t be happier with my decision, and who think it’s about time I finally did this! The questions of what I’m going to do with myself post-leap is entirely valid and it’s high time I answered exactly what I will and won’t be doing in this newly designed life o’ mine.

Things I will be doing:

  • Finishing my advanced teacher training at ISHTA Yoga to complete my 500-hour teacher certification. There will be a celebration when it’s all wrapped up this summer!
  • Working on Compass Yoga, the nonprofit I founded a year ago to focus on improving the health of all people by teaching the therapeutic benefits of yoga and meditation through free and low-cost classes and workshops. Given the demand and need in New York City, the programming requiress more of my attention. We’re also eagerly awaiting the approval of our 501(c)3 status to begin fundraising efforts.
  • Working on my freelance writing and a few personal writing projects like The Geronimo Project. (Know someone who took a leap of faith in their career and wants to share the story? Send them my way!)
  • Consulting with  Sesame Workshop. I have been tremendously lucky to be a consultant this year with the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, the education research arm of the Sesame Workshop, as they set-up their second annual National STEM Video Game Challenge. I’ll be continuing that work this summer and also looking to pick up some additional consulting work if possible. Someone’s got to make sure my pup, Phineas, has a warm bed and a full belly!
  • Running a pilot of Innovation Station. About 2 years ago I started working on a new product development curriculum for middle and high school students that I named Innovation Station. After a number of iterations, I finally found a format that is worthy of a pilot program. Now that I’ll have time during the school day, I’m going in search of a partner school. (I’m taking suggestions!)
  • Learning to code. Thanks to Codecademy, I’m fully indulging my inner nerd to learn the basics of coding as a way to grow my skill set while I stretch my mind. “Why does a yoga teacher need to learn how to code?” you ask. With the way our world is going, a knowledge of coding will be as necessary basic computer skills in the coming years.

Things I won’t be doing:

  • Sitting around eating Pop Tarts and watching TV. Well, that’s not entirely true. I enjoy a good Pop Tart now and then, and I do love TV. My consumption of both will be kept under control.
  • Doing tedious, menial work that doesn’t take advantage of my full set of interests and skills. (Enough of that!)
  • Wallowing in regret over the risk I’m taking.
  • Spending a lot of money. I don’t spend that much money now, but I’ll be making adjustments to do more with less. I’m actually really excited about living in an even thriftier fashion.

It’s going to be exciting to see what comes of this mix. Rest assured it will all be shared here.

creativity

Leap: Compass Yoga Joins Forces with the Hester Street Fair on Saturday, April 28th

Christa Avampato
Hester Street Fair - now and then

What are you doing Saturday, April 28th?

Come hang out with Compass Yoga at the Hester Street Fair! Hester Street Fair is one of the largest outdoor events in New York City. Around since the late 1800’s, today the fair offers ultra unique shopping, the most incredible vintage finds, and delicious local foods. The Hester Street Fair and Compass Yoga’s involvement was rated by Time Out New York as the #1 event to attend in New York City this Spring. It’s a party and you’re invited!

Compass Yoga will have a spot on the line-up from 10am – 6pm and we’ll be offering:

  • mini-private sessions to help you with any ache, pain, or health question that ails you
  • collecting your gently used yoga mats and props to stock our classrooms
  • the schedule of all of our weekly classes around the city
  • information on volunteer and partnership opportunities with Compass Yoga
  • and free delicious beverages provided by our generous and inspiring partner, Honeydrop Beverages

I’ll be there all day and joined by our incredibly talented teachers, board members, and volunteers. Come by, say hi, and learn more about the benefits of yoga. See you there!

creativity

Leap: Compass Yoga Adds 3 New Weekly Classes

Christa Avampato

We’re growing! More yoga to more people in more places.

I am so excited to share the news that Compass Yoga is adding 3 new classes to our weekly schedule, all free, open to all levels from beginning to advanced, and all in association with our growing relationship with the New York Public Library.

Wednesdays beginning April 18th
5pm – 6pm
Morningside Heights branch – 2900 Broadway at 113th Street

Saturdays beginning April 21st
11am – 12 noon
Grand Central branch – 135 East 46th Street (between Lexington & Third Aves.)

Tuesdays beginning May 1st
5:30pm – 6:30pm
East 67th Street branch – 328 East 67th Street (near First Ave.)

Please bring your own mat and any props you’d like to use (blocks, straps, etc.) View the calendar of all our classes here. See you on the mat!

creativity, Easter, family, food

Leap: Easter Memories Around My Grandmother’s Dinner Table

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

When I was little, Easter was my favorite holiday. When I think of the happiest days of my childhood, they all revolve around that Easter dinner table at my grandmother’s house. I wish I had told my grandmother how much those days meant to me then and now I wish I had the chance to tell her that they mean even more to me now.

Easter was a special time in that home. The Sharon Rose bush outside would be in full bloom in the front yard. As we pulled into the driveway, my grandmother would be at the door waiting for us to arrive. We were the very best part of her life and she made sure we knew it every second that she was around us.

The kitchen was the first room we entered in her home and there was always a glorious, welcoming scent coming from the oven. On Easter, it was lamb – a dish I never had anywhere else and not at any time of year.It would be accompanied by potatoes, glazed carrots, and buttered peas. Everyone got their own individual salad in their own individual bowl which I always got such a kick out of. And then there would be the black olive game. My grandfather and I would put the black olives in our finger tips – the olives too big for my fingers and too small for his – and then we would wave at each other.

Once the dishes had been cleared and washed, my favorite part of the meal would start. My grandmother would make her way over to the fridge and use the step stool to grab a large, round Tupperware container. Inside would be her special cake that I always thought she made just for me. It was incredibly simple – a yellow cake made from a Duncan Hines mix topped with sliced cinnamon apples. It’s still my very favorite food in the world and I’ve never been able to re-create exactly as she made it. There was something special about that cake; I think it was all the love she put into it.

The coffee would start brewing, the walnuts and the nut cracker would come out, and then the stories would start spilling from everyone. Most of them were about people whom I’d never met, relatives who had passed on long before I was born, but through all of those stories I came to know them and love them as much as I loved all of the people around that table. I’d grab another slice of cake and hope that somehow that dinner could go on forever.

But of course, it couldn’t. It was only a snapshot in time; a day that would come and go like every other day. Long after the sun went down, we’d pile back into the car with leftovers in tow, and make the long drive back to our house. My grandmother would be at the door, waving good-bye and staring out into the darkness long after our car was out of view.

Though today I’m spending Easter in a much different way than I did all those years ago, my mind is traveling back in time to that table surrounded by those people. I’m so grateful that for a little while we all had the chance to be together.

creativity

Leap: Time to Reflect – Spring, Easter, Passover

Christa Avampato
"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden." —Ruth Stout. From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/tds_beth/

Often when we’re racing toward a goal, we have our vision focused straight-ahead. Holidays give us time to pause and look back. Even if we don’t celebrate them, much of the world around us goes still, looks inward, and finds rejuvenation in the process. And we can join them in that effort.

Though I’m at the studio for most of this weekend for yoga teacher training, I’ll be taking some time to remember Easters past and all of the wonderful people who made them possible, grateful for the ones who are still here among us and for the ones who have left us for the next plane. This is such a special time of year when the world around us wiggles itself back to life. We should follow suit.

Wishing you a very happy weekend whatever you’re celebrating whether it’s Easter, Passover, Spring, or just the gift of another day.

creativity

Winner of a Copy of Lessons from the Monk I Married

Christa Avampato

Thanks to everyone who entered my second contest that I’ve run on this blog. I put all the names into a spreadsheet and had a web-based random number generator select a winner. Congratulations to MJ, a long time reader, supporter, and generous soul who continuously sends through interesting links to add to my ever-growing reading list.

creativity

Congrats to Trish Scott, winner of 12 free weeks of the digital version of The New York Times

Christa Avampato

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest to win 12 free weeks to the digital version of The New York Times! Trish Scott, a long time reader and supporter of Christa in New York, was chosen at random as the winner. Congrats, Trish!