Tag: future

creativity

Wonder: Bitter or better

Christa Avampato

Next week I turn 40, and this is my greatest lesson in life so far: if something doesn’t go my way, I’ve got two choices – I can choose to let it make me bitter or make me better. In my life, most things haven’t gone my way. They went the way they had to go to turn me into the person I am. And no, that’s not necessarily fair. Sometimes it’s downright unfair, but those are the times I learn the most – about myself, about others, and about the world. And yes, that learning can be painful and disappointing, but I’m grateful, in hindsight, for every ounce of it.

On the cusp of 40, I’ve made a decision – from here on out, I’m only getting better. I don’t have time for bitter.

creativity

Wonder: Be always blooming

Christa Avampato

be-always-bloomingSunday was a pretty spectacular day. I did most of my must-do items on Saturday so Sunday was a day to do whatever I wanted. It warmed up into the 60s, and Phin and I took a 2+ hour walk around our neighborhood. We enjoyed the sun, the warmth, and the many people and pups who stopped us to say hello. Every restaurant had its outdoor seating open. You could see the warmth seeping into people’s faces and opening up their smiles.

It’s supposed to snow on Friday. Though I do like the chilly weather, I’m looking forward to more than a taste of spring. It will be here in just a few short weeks. For me, the seasons are just the right length here in Washington, D.C. Just when I’m ready for a change, it arrives. No matter what the season, something’s always blooming.

creativity

Wonder: It’s time to be planted

Christa Avampato
Be planted
Be planted

“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted.” ~Christine Caine

Some of my friends are in a tough spot right now. They’re having a tough time seeing a way forward. They feel knocked down and dragged out into situations that they didn’t see coming and wouldn’t have chosen for themselves. This is a tough place to be. It’s uncomfortable. It feels hopeless. It’s disappointing.

In moments like this, I find that this quote by Christine Caine is most powerful. Take what you can learn from these awful experiences, even if they are lessons you had no interest in learning. Let them strengthen your resolve, refine your talents, and sharpen your skills of observation. Watch for actions and outcomes. Step back and clearly identify what you would do differently, and why, and how that might change things.

This is your time of incubation. This is a time of growth and evolution that can lead you to a personal revolution if you take the opportunity as it comes. Be planted so that when the light returns, you can shine.

creativity

Wonder: Remake your space for your future self

Christa Avampato
200911-omag-cronin-101-320x180
Who will you be?

“The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.” ~Marie Kondo

So often we define ourselves by where we’ve been and what we’ve accomplished, not where we’re going nor what we’re working on. We let our past determine our future. What if we decided to craft ourselves in the image of our dreams? How much further would we go and how much more would we do if we exchanged our anchors for wings? I’d like to find out. Are you in?

creativity

Wonder: You can build the door to your own future

Christa Avampato

door-to-heavenSometimes, you happen upon a door that leads you down a path you never knew existed. And sometimes you have to build a door for yourself and then pave the path you intend to walk. Yesterday, the latter happened to me. I built a door to my future and then walked through it. On the other side of the door was Notion Theory.

I’ve been kicking around my idea for Project Rubeus, a history-based ed tech product, for about two weeks and I met with Notion Theory, a development team who could actually build a small working prototype for me. The guys at Notion Theory are kind, whip-smart, and passionate about their work. They get the purpose of the project and its many applications. In under an hour, we all walked away over-the-moon excited about its potential. It involves heavy lifting in algorithm development, computational math, and machine learning, and it can be done in about 3 months for approximately $50,000. Those are very rough estimates, and now I’m working to find a way to piece together that money.

Sometimes we’re lucky enough to have our future find us. And if that’s not happening, then we have to go out there and build our future the way we want it to be. I’m rolling up my sleeves. This is going to get interesting.

creativity

Wonder: What if + why not = let’s go!

Christa Avampato

what-if-and-why-not“Knowledge emerges only through invention and reinvention, through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human beings pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other.” ~ Paulo Freire

I was talking with someone on Friday about the boxes we put ourselves in and the boxes other people put us in. Those boxes are unnecessary limits that stifle creativity and imagination. The only way to break out of them is to try something new, take ourselves out of the comfort zone, and explore. We’ll discover that we have new talents, interests, and ideas. We’ll realize hidden strengths and capabilities. Our lives are made richer through reinvention. The world is made better every time we look at the world and ask “what if” followed by “why not?” And in that intersection, we find the magic.

creativity

Wonder: Your growth is a gift to everyone

Christa Avampato

200338534-001

“The greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.” ~Lao Tzu

Try something new. Take a class. Go somewhere you’ve never gone before. Stretch your limits in ways you never thought possible. Invest in you. Because when you grow and evolve, a ripple begins that resonates with your community and moves outward into the world. What makes you better, makes everything better. And that’s a beautiful thing.

creativity

Wonder: You get better

Christa Avampato
betterthenyourself
You get better

“Listen, I wish I could tell you it gets better, but it doesn’t. You get better.” ~Joan Rivers to Louis C.K. on being a comedian

Say what you want about Joan Rivers. The woman was brave, fierce, and she defined her life on her terms. She was knocked down over and over again, and each time she used her hardship to become better – at her craft and in life.

If you’re in the midst of hard times now, just know you aren’t alone. Not by a long shot. When that happens to me, I think about this quote from Joan Rivers. Obviously, I always want things to get better. But even if they don’t, I take a lot of comfort in knowing that I’m always getting better. We all are.

creativity

Wonder: Find utility in everything

Christa Avampato
road1
Dance!

“Be patient and strong, for someday this pain will be useful to you.” ~Ovid

Here’s what I’ve learned: good, bad, or indifferent, every experience we have, person we encounter, and place we go is useful. It shapes us into who we are and who we will become. The good times and the tough times are all necessary. So if you’re having a good time, dance. And if you’re having a tough time, dance. Dance because what happening to you right now is contributing to the wonder that is you, and you are wonderful.

creativity

Wonder: Decide that now is your time

Christa Avampato

b40cc749bf88672c15e6a7b015b8f510I saw a friend earlier this week who had a tough 2015. I can empathize. I did, too. But here’s what I’ve decided: this year, 2016, is my year. I’ve got some work to do to make that happen, but I’m going to do it. I’m going to make it happen. If 2015 was tough for you, too, I’ll make you a deal. Let’s dust ourselves off and get started on making 2016 amazing. This is our year. Deal? Deal.