I write to think clearly and to stay aware and awake. Being a writer has helped me to see the world with more hope. It’s helped me excavate my own past for lessons I can carry forward into my future. It’s also given me the great good fortune to dig into stories, some known and some not so known, to give other people hope, help, and inspiration. I write to help people let go of their disappointments, to embrace their opportunities (even if they don’t readily see them), and to show people they are not alone in their experiences. I write to learn, to piece together disparate data points that lead me to new discoveries. I write to make a life and make a living that’s infused with meaning and purpose.
“Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.” ~ Native American Proverb
Every day I wake up with two thoughts – “Thank you” and “Today something amazing is going to happen.” I’m thankful that I get to wake up at all, that I’m healthy, and that I spend my time doing things I love. I’m a news junkie and one of the wonderful / awful side effects of my news addiction is that I hear a lot of stories of hardship and struggle. This keeps me from taking anything for granted and it motivates me do things to help make this world a better place.
I recently added the “today something amazing is going to happen” bit to my morning meditation. I believe in the power of intention and I’ve seen that the more often I intently look for blessings, the more likely I am to find them, create them, and recognize them when they cross my path. This belief restores my faith every day in our ability to attract wonder and absorb magic so that we can pass it on to others in our words and actions.
Every day behind the scenes, the Universe is working on blessings to send our way. So long as those blessings find us deeply engaged in work we love, we have the opportunity to hitch our work to the shooting star that races across the sky of our lives. This is the thought that keeps me going and will keep me saying thank you every morning that I have.
Bread making and sleep are magical processes. I put flour, salt, yeast, and water into a bowl in specific proportions, mix them up, cover the dough, and let it sit for 20 hours. When I wake up the next morning, it’s transformed into the perfect sticky consistency because I left it alone. When I need a booster shot of inspiration for my writing, I stuff my brain full of information that relates to what I’m trying to write and then I let my brain work it out while I sleep. Just as the light of day starts to filter into my apartment, the words I need start to filter right into my mind as I’m half-awake. I grab my pen and paper to get it all down.
The trick is to give your work what it needs and then walk away. Get the right ingredients into the right environment to work together. Arm yourself with data and information that your brain can sift and mesh together. The process is about you, and it’s also about you getting out-of-the-way. There’s a little mystery in creativity, a little magic inside each of us. There’s a time to work and a time to give up, and we need to do both to come up with something that’s inspired and inspiring.
The act of giving thanks is powerful. And contagious. When we give thanks for one thing, we inspire others to do the same. And as we see one blessing, others begin to come into focus. Joy is what bubbles up when we realize there is always something to be grateful for. We don’t need to seek happiness. Once we start giving thanks and happiness will find us.
“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” ~ W.J. Cameron.
There is so much to do on Thanksgiving. So much to consider, celebrate, and embrace. We’re cooking, setting the table, welcoming guests, traveling, and giving thanks. I’m thankful for all of you because we cheer each other on, encourage one another, and keep the light going in every circumstance. Every day I feel more fortunate than I did the day before and that’s because of you. Wherever you are, whatever you do, whomever you’re with today, I hope you find love and gratitude and joy in every single moment. Happy Thanksgiving.
Yesterday I wrote an article for The Motley Fool on the economic impacts of this week’s nuclear deal with Iran. When I was offered the assignment, I hesitated for a moment. This topic is far outside my comfort zone and it would require a lot of research on my part with a very short timeline. I wasn’t sure I was cut out to write this kind of piece, though I was incredibly drawn to the topic so I went for it. When it published yesterday, it was one of my proudest moments as a writer. I conquered that little voice that said, “Don’t do that. It’s not your kind of thing.”
This little voice sneaks up on all of us. It will try to keep us confined. It takes a lot of effort to break away from it. We have to have the courage to fail, to give it a try knowing that if we fall we will have the strength to get back up. Understand that if something doesn’t work out according to plan, we have the ability to learn, adjust, and keep going. That’s the funny thing about talents. The more we stretch them, the more they grow.
We are so much more talented than we let ourselves believe. Somewhere along the way we were told to not think too much of ourselves or the value we bring to the people, places, and causes that consume our time. We were told to feel lucky for every opportunity that comes our way rather than recognizing that we make our own opportunities. Someone convinced us to keep our heads down and follow the path as determined by others.
In the past few days, I’ve had several conversations with friends who don’t realize just how amazing they are. They’re worried about making bold moves as if they don’t have a right to them. They’re cautious about standing up for themselves and the gifts they bring to the places they work. They don’t see what I see – that they deserve everything they want and then some because they worked hard to get where they are.
Have faith, in yourself, in your process, in your path. You are meant to do great things with your great life. We get what we settle for, so only settle for what you really want.
Have you ever watched a kid at “work”? He or she is so absorbed that nothing else matters. There’s no checking the clock to see how much time has passed. There’s no distraction or boredom or frustration. Just pure focus. They are so fascinated by what they’re doing that they don’t want to do anything else.
I’m convinced that this is the secret to happiness, to be so in love with the work at hand that just the act of doing it is its own reward. In that work we will find our greatest talents, a peace that can’t be disturbed, a joy that can barely be described. That’s what we’re aiming for – to love our work so much that it becomes play, that there is no separation between our head and our heart. Then the feeling of fulfillment becomes not something we pursue. It’s just something that we are.
Sometimes things don’t go according to plan. For some of us it might seem like things never go according to plan. Here’s what I’ve learned: a project has a life of its own. It does a dance between bending to our will and flying off the track at its own accord. That’s just the nature of work, of life. What we can do is stay true to ourselves. We can remember why we started the project in the first place and keep our eye on that mission as our guide. It’s our True North.
My friend, Michael, has told me many times that we must begin as we wish to go. In the beginning, we have a focus, a goal, and a reason for putting our energy and time into a dream. In the beginning, our intent is at its purest state. We have to hang onto that. There will be distractions along any path. People’s opinions will sway us. Our experience with the project may cloud our vision over time. We can reset and center ourselves by going back to the beginning, by remembering and honoring the intention that started us on our journey. That is where we must look for continued inspiration, for hope, for strength. It’s all in the seed, always.
So if you find yourself frustrated, tired, disappointed, or confused, don’t despair. Allow the clarity of your beginning dream to be the force that drives your forward.
Very happy to share the news that my commercial voice over demo is complete and uploaded. Here is the link if you’d like to give it a listen: http://www.voices.com/people/christanyc.
Now it’s time to get to get out there, learn from, and share with the voice over community. Over the next few months, I’ll be hard at work using this demo as I build this new dimension and service to my content development business. I’m excited for the journey ahead! Here’s a little bit more info about me and my work:
About my voice:
Smooth voice of a trusted source, friend, and girl-next-door. Honest and personal with a sense of humor that is both subtle and smart. Communicate an authentic upbeat enthusiasm while remaining classy, knowledgable, and professional. Range varies from conversational to charming to sultry.
What clients get by working with me:
I am a storyteller. I’m collaborative, easy to work with, insanely prompt, diligent, and take direction well. My job is to deliver a voice over that clients love that represents their brands and products in the very best light.
As a journalist I cover the convergence of culture, technology, and business. I also write slice-of-life pieces and conduct one-on-one interviews for feature writing. Additionally, I am a playwright, book editor, and write on-brand content for companies.
I have an MBA from the Darden School at UVA and have worked in strategic marketing and product development roles at American Express, Toys R Us, Disney, The Home Depot, and several large nonprofit organizations. I began my career in management for Broadway shows and national theater tours.
If you are interested in working with me, or know someone who is, send me a message at christa.avampato@gmail.com.
