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Dedicated to the ancient Greek philosophers and traditional Greek villagers who taught us so much about how to live the good life, as well as to all the people around the world who are searching for meaning.
Contents
Chapter 2 OPA! More than a Word
Others (O): Connect Meaningfully with Others
Chapter 3 Connect with The Village
Chapter 4 Connect with Hospitality
Chapter 5 Connect with Honor
PART THREE
Purpose (P): Engage with Deeper Purpose
Chapter 6 Engage with “Know Thyself”
Chapter 7 Engage with Arete
Chapter 8 Engage with Evdemonia
PART FOUR
Attitude (A): Embrace Life with Attitude
Chapter 9 Embrace The Fullness of Life
Chapter 10 Embrace Aphobia
Chapter 11 Embrace Well-Being
PART FIVE
The Odyssey Continues . . .
Chapter 12 Everybody Say “OPA!”
Acknowledgments
Join the OPA! Movement
About the Authors
THE SUN WAS SHINING AND the sky appeared bluer than usual. We could even see our reflections in the crystal-clear water of the Cretan Sea as it gently kissed the shoreline much like it must have done when Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaka and hero of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, passed by the same spot thousands of years before. It is Odysseus and, of course, Homer, whom we must thank for giving us the popular word “odyssey” and its deeper meaning, which is now associated with the idea of traveling along life’s uncharted path. And like Odysseus, we view life as an odyssey into the unexpected, as well as an adventure to be embraced and experienced to the fullest.
It would not be too far-fetched to say that it was the spirit of Odysseus that guided us along the path toward writing this book. The idea behind and catalyst for the book, which not only sent us off on our journey to Greece but also helped to chart its direction, came from the existential question people kept asking us over the years, “How can we live more meaningful lives?” As leaders, professors, consultants, and personal mentors, no matter what the task or subject matter in which we were involved, the need, not simply the desire, to be engaged in a meaningful life and with meaningful work, would surface. We observed that there is a basic human need to be engaged in meaningful relationships with others—family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, even acquaintances—and to feel that life has a purpose, that it really matters. More often than not, we found that it was the search for meaning that motivated and sustained people through both good and not-so-good times.
As we wondered why the search for meaning was becoming such an important and pervasive topic, it seemed only natural for us to go on an exploration, like our Greek ancestor Odysseus, in search of an answer.
However, we discovered from the start that finding an answer would be much easier said than done. Setting sail into the abyss was one thing; charting a course that would bring us to our intended destination was quite another since no maps were readily available to guide us along the way. Again, like the explorer Odysseus, we had to rely not only on our knowledge and past experience, but also on our deeper sense of inner “knowing” or intuition. Sure, many people over the ages had searched for and written about the same existential question that triggered our quest. Like sponges recovered by divers from the waters around the Greek islands, we soaked up as much of this existing information as possible. We spoke with thousands of people who sought meaning in their lives but we still weren’t finding the answers to what makes life meaningful. Instead, we found more insight into the issues facing people in these challenging times.
The Lack of Meaning