鈥淐OVID-19 has taught us that change is required for growth,鈥� writes Teachers College鈥檚 in an essay written for Columbia News. Athan, Research Professor in Clinical Psychology and at the , adds that 鈥渨e all have the chance this year to turn trauma into new learning 鈥� and with that opportunity, remake our world.鈥�
TURNING TRAUMA INTO LEARNING Athan urges her readers to 鈥渞emember what is life-giving and sustaining in the moment.鈥� (Photo: Bruce Gilbert)
For example, anticipating Thanksgiving dinner with just her nuclear family, Athan, whose teaching centers on adult transformative learning through ritual and symbol, plans to set her holiday table with family heirlooms commemorating loved ones who will be missing from the celebration this year. Instead of an extravagant feast, she will serve a scaled-down meal, assembled by preschoolers鈥� hands, to introduce the possibility of new traditions and to 鈥渞emember what is life-giving and sustaining in the moment.鈥�
鈥淩ituals are made with what is at hand,鈥� Athan concludes. 鈥淛ust look around, and gather what you have.鈥�