Category: New Years Eve

care, career, holiday, hope, job, New Years Eve

My Year of Hopefulness – Day 1

Christa Avampato

On December 23, 2008, I began a daily log of acts of kindness after writing a blog post about small moments that made my day. I realized in the 15 minutes that it took me to write that post that I had a very simple New Year’s Resolution: I wanted to feel more hopeful in 2009 and I wanted to do my part to generate more hope for others. From that blog post and simple wish, I am starting an extraordinary year of giving and receiving.


I don’t typically write series of articles on this blog. To help me keep my New Year’s Resolution, I will be writing a daily blog post, in addition to my other regular posts, about what I am doing to be more hopeful and generate more help for others. It will be a good reminder to me, and I hope that it may do readers some good as well. 


The economy is weighing heavily on people’s minds at the start of this year. People are facing layoffs and possibly the bankruptcy of the companies they work for, particularly in certain industries such as retail. As a result, it can be pretty tough to get up for work in the morning. Even if you are lucky enough to keep your job in this downturn, and you are indeed lucky if you’re in that boat, there will be added stress as you may be doing the work of two or three people, and being asked to do that work with no additional compensation or resources. 

So what can we do to make that trip out the front door a bit better? This evening I made up a small sign that I taped to the inside of my front door, right by the door knob, that details what I am achieving and working toward at this current job and the good things about my position that I should be grateful for. It will be a good reminder every morning before I head out for work. If you are facing some discomfort in your current job, maybe this tactic will help you as well. 

Happy New Year!
holiday, New Years Eve

Tradition!

Christa Avampato

While I practice traditions in so many areas of my lives, I find that as I get older I am more reluctant to make any new ones of my own. I adopt them from family and friends, and many of them relate back to my childhood. I think of their practice as a way to hold on to happy memories and people that have passed on. Traditions preserve history.

I came across a blog post by Andrea Leigh on the Amazon Daily Blog about the tradition of eating food in the shape of a ring to celebrate the New Year. It is believed by many cultures that this will bring good luck as it symbolizes “coming full circle”. The Dutch in their forever playful outlook on life feel that donut eating is the best way to “ring” in the New Year. What a marvelous way to take a tradition and personalize it. And who am I to argue? Boston Cream, anyone?

For Andrea Leigh’s post, visit http://www.aldenteblog.com/2008/01/happy-new-year.html

celebration, happiness, holiday, New Years Eve, New York

Day 1

Christa Avampato

2008 was brought in with a wide smile on my face surrounded by fabulous friends. I have never hosted a New Year’s party before and my friend, Catherine, suggested that having one would be a good idea. Plus, she has a spacious apartment, a rarity in NYC, that would be a perfect spot to host one.

I invited a number of friends from different parts of my life, and many of them had never met before. Worlds colliding can be a nerve-wracking thing. To my delight, it was fabulous from beginning to end. People were striking up conversations right and left and I feel confident that the party could have gone on into the wee hours of the morning without a pause.

I was so thrilled with the turnout of so many amazing people in one room. And a bit sad, too. I have been wishing that I could afford a bigger apartment to have gatherings like this more often. And then my dear friend, Lisa, helped me open up my eyes a bit wider. We panned the room to take a look at the space that people were actually occupying as they enojyed the last few hours of 2007. It was roughly the size of my studio apartment. And when I came home I did some more analyzing…while my place may be small, there is ample room to sit and chat, and people at a party don’t spread out – they clump together to have conversations and to share laughs.

The wonderful gift that 2008 brought me, in addition to all of the great people I was surrounded by, was the idea that this type of gathering didn’t need to be a once-a-year event. I could have this kind of celebration much more often, even in my studio apartment. Happiness and laughter is like air – it just conforms to the space in which you allow it to be.

The image above can be found at http://www.backdrops.net/images/108%20Celebration%2010%20x%2010.JPG

holiday, New Years Eve

Looking back

Christa Avampato

“I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now.
~ Edna Mode, The Incredibles

After much anticipation, the 31st of December has arrived. And the questions ensue. “What resolutions are you making?” “Do you have big plans for New Year’s?” “How did you feel about 2007?” “What do you think will happen in 2008?”

The quote from Edna Mode seems very timely and the perfect answer to just about any question you may get as we turn the page on the calendar in a matter of hours. I envy people who don’t look back. I look back obsessively, searching for patterns, regretting things I’ve done or said, or didn’t say or do that perhaps I should have. I try to imagine where I was and what I was doing exactly one year ago. Who was I with? What was I hoping for?

I know that many people say they don’t believe in resolutions, or they come up with a new name for “resolution” to make it seems less ominous. I make resolutions, and I’m glad I make them and most of the time I’ve kept them. They give me some direction, a goal, something to shoot for that requires my commitment in some measure. Resolutions are personal creations that determine how we’d like to conduct our lives in the 365 days ahead. They are cause for celebration, not despair.

This year, I’m making a few simple ones. One of them is inspired my Ms. Mode. 2007, for me, was a year of not looking back. I graduated, launched into a new career in a “new” city, and put myself out there. I gave up thinking about old boyfriends and old friends that had faded away, often for the best. I cultivated happiness in every area of my life, and went about weeding those pesky things in my life that detracted from joy. I embraced the now.

So in 2008, I am committed to continuing that train of thought. I am making every effort to look forward, head up, eyes wide, ears open because all we’ve got is the now, and I don’t want to miss a moment of it.

The above photo can be found on: http://www.allmoviezone.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/incredibles.jpg

celebration, holiday, New Years Eve, New York, New York Times

Wild Revelry Is So Last Year

Christa Avampato

For the past few days I have been using my drive to work to come up with some pithy and witty commentary on New Year’s and why it’s my least favorite holiday. I opened the Times this morning and decided I didn’t need to write anything – William Grimes said it best.

I’ll be spending NYE with a few friends eating delicious, home-made food, and completely avoiding any run in with crowds. I’ve decided that 2008 is going to be the best year of my life. “Why?” you may ask. Just call it a very good hunch.

William Grimes story in Today’s Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/arts/28stay.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin