spring 2012 columbia college women

EVENTSEmbracing Change ... or Not?On February 29, CCW sponsored an engaging and timely panel discussionand series of workshops that focused on responding to change in our lives.“Embracing Change ... Or Not?” was held at AXA Financial in midtown and waswell attended by alumnae and current students from several Columbia schools.PHOTO: D. FongLife Changes: The NextStepEVENTSThis is a program that helps people find new waysof thinking about the next step in their lives-bothprofessionally and personally. Originally offeredat The Aspen Institute, workshops use poetry toexplore what we need at various stages of ourlives to feel fulfilled.Dr. Laura Brumberg, CC ’87 and chair of theCCW membership committee, moderated a panelof experts who discussed positive approaches tochange in all aspects of one’s life, from the personalto the professional. The panelists supported themessage that change is something to be embracedrather than feared. They advocated a proactiveapproach to prepare for and initiate change.Siheun Song, CC ’07 gives the opening remarks.PHOTO: D. FongPHOTO: S. SongAttendees were then treated to artisanal cheesefrom Luigi Guffanti Formaggi as well as dinner andsocializing before separating into smaller groups forindividual workshops led by each of the panelists.The workshops focused on mentally and physicallyadapting to change.PHOTOS: D. FongThe Embracing Change panelists and moderator (pictured left toright) - Linda, Mari, Laura and Tina.Tina Fong, BC ’87, a Guild Certified FeldenkraisTeacher ® led the Feldenkrais workshop, whichhelped one group of attendees try to increasetheir awareness by reconnecting with their naturalmovements. Dr. Linda Lehrer, the Director ofNew York Public Programs at the Aspen Instituteand also a life coach, used poetry to assist anothergroup on the path to thinking differently aboutthe way they adapt to change. Mari Miyoshi, alicensed Occupational Therapist, used Brain Gym ®to help the third group learn to train their bodies torespond to change through a variety of breathingand physical exercises.Overall, participants said that they left feelinginspired to use their new tools and techniques toembark on transformation. Many people expressedsupport for the program and hoped it would beoffered again in order for them to try the differentworkshops that they had not been able to attend.It certainly seems that Columbia alumnae haveresponded to the program’s title in the affirmative!— Virginia Harnisch, CC ’87“Be the change that you wish tosee in the world.” -- Gandhi.The Next Step is about change. It is aboutmovement. As we move along in our lives,the scenery changes and the road changes. Weexperience things, learn things, lose and gainthings. We grow older. Each of these changesopens another phase of our lives, requiring newways of thinking and of looking at ourselves andour surroundings.The phase of life addressed in this program isnot connected to a particular age, nor is it thenatural consequence of growing older. Somepeople get to this phase through a life-changingevent: divorce, illness, the loss of a job, orretirement. For others the path is less obvious-asense of restlessness, discontent. Howeverthey get there, it is at this point people begin toquestion the significance of life: What is it allabout? What am I here for? What is a “good”life?The Next Step helps participants explore what itis they really need, what they feel is importantand what is next in their lives. Discussions coversuch issues as:·How to find out what you really want·Building up the muscles of change·Turning up the volume of your lifeThrough a combination of dialogue andrelaxation, participants take some deep breathsand begin to look at their life-and their optionsinnew ways.— Linda Lehrer, Ph.D.6 7