Other countries and cultures have benefited from the foundation that the Greeks laid and have now raced ahead to achieve great success in the worlds of commerce, technology, and even politics. With its small population, Greece is overshadowed by the giants in today’s commercial world—the United States, China, Japan, Brazil, Russia, etc. Although some say Greece peaked too early in the first Golden Age, approximately twenty-five hundred years ago, we believe that the second Golden Age of Greece is coming!
Understanding the Deeper Character
On our journey, we visited many traditional Greek villages and were treated with amazing hospitality. We were welcomed in to enjoy simple meals of feta cheese, olives, freshly baked bread, and ripe fruit and vegetables. We drank ouzo, raki, and red wine, and laughed and danced until the sun came up once again. We danced on the very beach where the character Zorba danced and felt the burdens of life lift from our shoulders. We rose at dawn to watch the fishermen return with their early morning catches. We walked in the footsteps of the Minoans and marveled at their high quality of life, lived so many millennia ago. We celebrated birthdays, “name days,” weddings, and special holidays with feasts attended by extended families and people from neighboring villages. We sat with villagers of all ages to listen to their life stories. We explored, we listened, and we learned.
We discovered that it is an interesting time for everyone in Greece, given the recent challenges of the economic crisis and the austerity, or cost-cutting measures, implemented throughout the country. When we asked about these challenges, the villagers’ responses revealed their unique and resilient spirit:
“Now we suffer but something good will come from this. We will make it through this, just as we have made it through other tough times in our history.”
“We have each other. We can share our food with each other.”
“Just as the olive tree can be cut in half through its trunk and a new tree will grow from the cut, we will grow once again after this cut.”
Throughout our travels, we found that the people in the traditional Greek villages spoke and lived simply but were incredibly wise about life. They knew how to live with joy and meaning. They knew how to build community, treat one another well, and connect in authentic ways. They knew how to embrace all of life—all the ups and downs, all the difficulties and joys. They knew how to live not just with their heads, but with their hearts and spirits as well. And we also discovered that, even today, they know about and practice the wisdom of the ancient Greek philosophers.
Join us on our odyssey as we share how the lessons from the villagers and the ageless wisdom from the ancient Greek philosophers provide the step-by-step formula for how to live a meaningful life! Along the way, we’ve also provided OPA! Affirmations, which can help guide you to take more positive action in your life. In chapter two, we explore the origins, history, and deeper meaning of the common Greek word “OPA!” Then we share how the word OPA! translates into a new lifestyle and work style, which we call The OPA! Way.
OPA! AFFIRMATION
I find joy and meaning in my life when I view my life as a personal odyssey.
It was a beautiful summer’s evening and we were enjoying the fresh sea breeze blowing across the patio of the small restaurant nestled in the harbor. We were just finishing the last course of a wonderful feast of local food when our host stopped by our table.
“Tonight we have a special treat for you. Tonight we dance!” he said, glowing with pride, eager to share a bit of the traditional culture with us. In haste, several of the local men cleared away the empty tables and prepared a space for the dance. Slowly the Greek music filled the air and, one by one, the locals rose and joined in with the dance.
As is common with Greek dance, it starts small and ends big. With some urging from the more experienced Greek dancers, it doesn’t take much time before “the dance” becomes a community affair. We joined in, awkwardly trying to follow the steps, but we focused more on the overall joy of the dance than on whether or not we missed a few steps or two.
Soon the Greek word “OPA!” filled the air, and everyone in the restaurant, including some international travelers who did not speak Greek, rose from their chairs and joined the line of dancers who, by now, were twisting and turning their way across the patio and through the restaurant tables. Everyone got involved since they all knew, without really knowing why or how, that “OPA!” is a call to action and a sign of belonging. It doesn’t matter from what country you are or what native language you speak, when you hear “OPA!” you know what it means and you know what you must do: It’s time to join in and dance with the rest of your Greek family!
OPA! and Greek Dancing
It is customary for Greeks to shout “OPA!” when dancing. You may have seen this happen at a Greek festival where dancers, dressed in traditional costumes from various parts of Greece, proudly and enthusiastically exhibit their dancing moves and athletic skills. You may have also seen such a display of the OPA! spirit when watching Greek dancing on television or in popular movies, such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Mamma Mia!
To Greeks, dance is not simply a recreational activity or a way to celebrate good times. On the contrary, the long-standing tradition of dance across Greece is a well-known part of their entire way of life; an authentic integration of mind, body, and spirit. Throughout the ages, Greek dance has proven to be not only a release or way to manage stress, but also an inspirational force that guides the Greeks through the stress so that they can confront—and ideally overcome—whatever challenges they are facing in life and work. Be it to deal with foreign occupations or economic crises, dance is built into the Greek culture’s DNA and used not only as a weapon to combat adversity but also as a tool to build resilience.
In the famous novel Zorba the Greek, written by Nikos Kazantzakis, it was the dance that enabled Zorba to see through the fog of everyday life and inspired him and others to achieve their highest potential. The movie’s classic song, “Zorba’s Dance,” is recognized worldwide as a powerful catalyst for making anyone, even the most reluctant or unwilling individual, want to dance. Indeed, just thinking about this song makes us feel like dancing like Zorba, and to do what has now become the custom: enthusiastically shout “OPA!”
You may have also heard the expression “OPA!” when someone drops a plate in a restaurant—either on purpose, as a symbol of celebration, or by accident. Or you may have heard everybody in a restaurant shout “OPA!” when the Greek cheese appetizer, Saganaki, is lit. (“Flaming” Saganaki is a predominantly North American invention of frying or grilling cheese, setting it aflame with brandy, and finally extinguishing the flames with lemon juice.)
The Origins and Meaning of OPA!
Interestingly, we’ve been able to trace the roots of the word “OPA!” to ancient Greece. Thanks to our dear friend Sophia Tsakiroglou Bothou, founder of the Athena Apollo Museum in Athens, we learned that the word can be found in both The Iliad and The Odyssey, which were written some three thousand years ago!
According to Greek mythology, nine goddesses or muses inspired the creation of literature and the arts. (Today, we often compliment a woman by referring to her as a “muse”; someone who inspires creativity.) The muse Kalliope had a beautiful voice and was best known as Homer’s muse and his inspiration for The Iliad and The Odyssey. In Homer’s