Tag: future

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

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“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.

creativity

This just in: We can only live life one moment at a time

Christa Avampato
Do your best!
Do your best!

I want to know what’s going to happen. Tomorrow. Next week. Next year. This has been especially true for me the last few uncertain weeks. Every day, several times a day, I have to remind myself that there’s no way to know what the future holds. Wild and unexpected things happen every day. Some good. Some bad. All of them give us an opportunity to learn and grow. The best we can do is the best we can do.