I’m studying sustainable coastal resilience strategies in the face of climate change and rising sea levels. Seawalls don’t provide sufficient protection, harm wildlife, pollute waterways, and are difficult and expensive to maintain. Artificial walls don’t work in nature. What works is building longer buffet tables and larger homes that make accommodations for all stakeholders—coral reefs, mangroves, oyster beds, and salt marshes. This idea is much more than a metaphor or allegory. Seawalls are a cautionary tale of what happens when we exclude beings who have all the same rights that we do to survive and thrive. Sustainable solutions have successfully played out over the course of 3.8 billion years of natural history’s R&D lab. We would be wise to follow its example.
Joy Today: Tours of New York City’s subway secrets
Spent the day at the birthplace of our NYC subway system. Had such a spectacular time learning secrets of the NYC subway on an Untapped Cities tour! Justin’s an AMAZING tour guide & I’m so excited he’s teaching me to give this tour. There are so many secrets that we pass by every single day. Once you know them, they’ll change your view of our city forever. I can’t wait to show them to you! MTA New York City Transit is a treasure trove, time capsule, museum, and living archive all rolled into one. The stories are endless.
Joy Today: Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
Jeff Goldblum blew my mind with his spoken word on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert when he recited this passage by George Bernard Shaw as the way he keeps his hopes up during the Trump administration:
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to the future generations.” ~George Bernard Shaw
I was lucky to see Jeff Goldblum live with his band a few years ago at Rockwell Table & Stage in LA. My friend, Trevor, pointed out to me that Jeff Goldblum was playing here with his band on a regular basis. A couple week later I wandered in with a date after dinner in Los Feliz and it was a magical experience. (The guy didn’t last mostly because he didn’t enjoy Jeff Goldblum as much as I did, but my love of Jeff and his music certainly did.) I’ve been listening to and loving his music ever since, all thanks to my friend, Trevor. Give his new album, The Capitol Studios Sessions, a listen. It’s wonderful.
Joy Today: Ask bigger questions
“We can only ask questions that we have imagination for.” ~Toby Spribille, Lichenologist
This quote makes my heart grow three sizes. Grow your imagination. Ask bigger questions. It’s the only way we’ll evolve.
Joy Today: An inclusive Valentine’s Day
I love that we have a holiday about love. I just wish it were more inclusive. Today, I hope you love the heck out of everything that makes you happy—friends, family, pets, animals, your city, books, your work, your creative projects, history, science, travel, art, curiosity itself. And I hope you get in some serious self-care and do something extra nice for yourself. That’s the kind of Valentine’s Day I’m into.❤️
Joy Today: Opportunity
Opportunity’s last words from Mars: “My battery is low & it’s getting dark.”
May we all have lives as rich with discovery and a final chapter as peaceful. We’re lucky to have known you, Opportunity, and to see this world through your eyes. Thank you for your service.
Joy Today: The detours are the journey
“Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.” -Rumi
We’ll be disappointed. Things won’t go as planned. Try another route. Another idea. Another pitch. These failures are all material. The detours are the journey.
Joy Today: I’m now a licensed New York City’s tour guide
You’re looking at New York City’s newest licensed tour guide! I took my exam and got a 138 out of 150. I was so happy that I hugged Barbara, the proctor at the Department of Consumer Affairs. Huge thanks to my adventure posse, fellow guides, and fabulous friends Erin Hunkemoeller & Ashley Semrick for all their study advice and resources, and to Michelle Young Pasquet & the Untapped Cities crew for encouraging me to take this step. I can’t wait to create cool tour experiences in our shining city with all of you! If you’d like to know more about my tours, please get in touch at christa.avampato@gmail.com.
This is me at the very site of New Amsterdam where the difficult, complicated history of our modern day city began in 1626. In the background is the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island where my ancestors arrived from Italy 100 years ago.
Joy Today: My book becomes a semifinalist for ScreenCraft’s Cinematic Book Competition
My book, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, made it into the semifinals of the Cinematic Book Competition with ScreenCraft. I’m ecstatic! One step closer to the possibility of Emerson Page going from page to screen. A million thanks to all of you cheering us on! Grab a copy of the book here: https://emersonpage.com/shop/
There were over 1,200 books submitted and we’re now a field of 128 books. This is such an incredible honor to make it this far and I’m over the moon about it. Congrats to all of the semifinalists. More news soon!
Joy Today: Keep showing up
If you work from the heart, the right place, the right time, & the right circumstances will arrive. Do the work, with passion & grace. Always be a student. Share, give, & grow. Keep showing up. Extend. Love. And be grateful for all of it. It’s all material. It all matters.
Christa Avampato 