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OPA! More than a Word

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 epic writings, OPA! had the distinct meaning of “singing with a beautiful-sounding voice,” with direct reference to the voice of Kalliope. The chanting or calling out to Kalliope was shortened to “OPE!” and eventually that morphed into “OPA!” In time, the word began to describe the high tone of a vocalist who, through his or her “OPA!” was able to create an uplifting and enthusiastic spirit.

Today, there are many definitions and associated uses of OPA! Although it does not have an exact translation in English, it is a common Greek word used mosfrequently to express joy, excitement, and inspiration. When used as an expression, it reinforces the belief that ultimately, no matter how challenging our situation, we always have the freedom to choose our attitude—and exclaiming “OPA!” helps us choose a positive, resilient attitude. The word is also life-affirming, suggesting that, in one way or another, life truly matters and that all of life holds unlimited potential. Shouting “OPA!” lifts the spirits of the person saying it and it can also elevate the spirits of those who hear it. To be sure, it would be very difficult to shout out “OPA!” or to hear “OPA!” and not feel good about life!

We discovered while on our odyssey in Greece that the word “OPA!” also means different things to different people and its exact definition is often debated. Some Greeks told us that “OPA!” can be interpreted or translated into English to mean “what the hell, let’s do it,” which they viewed as an expression of freedom and self-reliance.

Another interpretation of the word was given to us by our good friend Andreas, the owner of the Greek restaurant Acropolis in Rethymno, Crete. With his usual passion and confidence, Andreas told us that “OPA!” can also mean “wake up,” “danger,” and “look out.” In this interpretation, OPA! reminds us to remain awake and conscious of our life’s journey so that we don’t regret our choices later on, nor become like a fly stuck on the windowsill of life—wanting more out of life but unable to see or take advantage of the other options available to us.

Initially, we found Andreas’ perspective on its use unusual, but as we later learned, it was based on an accurate definition, depending upon the word’s actual spelling in the Greek language. There are two letters in the Greek alphabet that represent the single English letter “O”: “O” (omicron) and “Ω” (omega). Spelled with an omicron, OPA! (ΌΠA) means voice, as we described with our story of Kalliope, along with excitement and spirit. However, when spelled with an omega, OPA! (ΏΠA), which is derived from various ancient Greek words describing the opening of our eyes, means “danger” or “watch out.” So Andreas was very insightful when he told us that “OPA!” can express excitement but also “wake up!” or “look out!”

Our examination of OPA! from ancient times to the present day reveals that it can be viewed as two sides of the same coin:

• One side, ΌΠA, refers to the uplifting, enthusiastic expression that is often heard during some kind of celebration; a manifestation of “kefi” or spirit. (The word “enthusiasm” is from the Greek words “en” [in] and “theos” [god], essentially meaning “manifesting the spirit within.”)

• The other, ΏΠA, refers to the human need to remain awake or aware and be on the lookout for any possible dangers, as well as opportunities, in one’s life path.

Much like the Chinese concept of yin and yang, these two sides of the OPA! Coin may appear to be opposite life forces, but are actually interconnected and interdependent. Both sides are needed to build resilience, manage life transitions, and enjoy life to the fullest.

Two sides of the OPA! Coin

Our OPA! Moment

Of course, OPA! has a unique meaning for us. One day after traveling through the back roads of Crete, we stopped for a late dinner at a local taverna. We were just beginning to enjoy our mezedes (appetizers) when we were interrupted by shouts of “OPA!” coming from the other side of the taverna. We smiled at each other, raised our glasses of red wine in a toast, and echoed “OPA!” at our table. Call it synchronicity or whatever you wish but, as we began to discuss the results of our many interviews, we realized that the letters in OPA! just happened to relate to the three traits we found most prevalent in the people who felt they had the greatest meaning in their lives:

• They connect meaningfully with others.

• They engage with deeper purpose.

• They embrace life with attitude.

The initial letters in the words “others” (O), “purpose” (P), and “attitude” (A) spell the word and, coincidentally, form the acronym OPA! We felt our hearts start to beat faster and our faces light up with excitement. “OPA!” That was it! The Greeks we had talked to were truly manifesting an OPA! lifestyle. They were truly living The OPA! Way.

OPA! as a Path to Personal Growth

Sometimes, even though the world is so complex, the solutions to our challenges can actually be quite simple. As we turn to the Greeks to help us solve these challenges, we come full circle. Thousands of years ago, the Greeks led the way in discovering new ways to think and be in the world around them; today, we can turn to them once again to share their timeless wisdom about how we can live more joyful and meaningful lives.

What we find fascinating is that the ancient Greeks were leaders in holistic thinking—viewing the world from an integrated point of view, not just looking at the parts or events of our lives as being separate. They believed that nothing and no one was separate, that everything in the universe was connected. They were ahead of their time with their insights into the integration of body, mind, and spirit. (It was much later that the body and mind were viewed as separate entities, leading to what we believe are many of the issues we face in the pursuit of well-being today.)

The ancient Greeks were ahead of their time with their discoveries in the first Golden Age of Greece, some twenty-five hundred years ago. But many of us (including some Greeks of today) didn’t listen to them. We went off on our path of individualism, the never-ending pursuit of material gain and wealth, and the pursuit of technology as the primary means of connecting. We separated mind, body, and spirit. Now stressed and overwhelmed, we are trying to find our way back and the traditional Greeks are waiting for us; they are waiting to help us deal with the economic crisis, they are waiting to help us build our resilience to deal with the destruction that we are witnessing in our world today, and they are waiting to help us return to the core essence of life. In many ways, the Greeks in the villages whom we met along our journey are now ahead of their time once again.

The Pursuit of Meaning

The challenge many of us face is that we are chasing goals, such as happiness, pleasure, and power, that aren’t leading to deeper meaning in our lives. Importantly, The OPA! Way is not about the pursuit of happiness per se. Many have quoted Aristotle as saying that the goal of all human activity is to achieve happiness. As we share in chapter eight, Aristotle’s thoughts on this subject are often misquoted and misunderstood. Happiness is not the ultimate goal of life. Happiness is an emotion that is linked to pleasure but it is fleeting; it doesn’t last. We can share a happy moment when we are enjoying a good meal or a good laugh with a friend, but this emotion lasts only a short time. It is an illusion to believe that “the pursuit of happiness” will bring us a deep sense of meaning in life.

The OPA! Way is not about the pursuit of power or influence either. Power is about being strong and dominant, having (or trying to have) control over others or other things. Ultimately, though, the pursuit of power leads to emptiness because power over others or over our circumstances in life is just another illusion. Our only real power lies within ourselves. It can also be said that the pursuit of power is less likely than the pursuit of pleasure (or happiness) to lead to meaning and, for all practical purposes, is even farther removed from it.

The OPA! Way is also not about the pursuit of wealth, which in itself is a primitive form of the pursuit of power. We’ve all heard people express the idea that more wealth will bring them both happiness and meaning: “If only I had more money.” But the results of many research studies have shown that once we achieve a certain level of wealth, enough to cover the basics of life, any increase in new wealth does not necessarily result in a lot more satisfaction. In other words, doubling our money won’t bring about a doubling of meaning in our lives.

The OPA! Way is about the pursuit of meaning in our lives. Having deep meaning in our lives helps us enjoy life despite the ups and downs, the joys and the difficulties, we may experience. Meaning gives us a sense of fulfillment and a passion for life. Meaning helps us build resilience.

Meaning helps us live all of life to the fullest with enthusiasm. Meaning is the fuel that keeps the human spirit moving forward at all times, not just during the good times.

Our mission is to help you live a more meaningful life by applying the ageless wisdom of The OPA! Way paradigm and lifestyle. Throughout this book, we share our journey, our adventures, our challenges, and our learning with you. The three core lessons we discovered throughout our odyssey, along with the ways to practice them, can be found in parts two through four, under Others, Purpose, and Attitude, respectively. So, read on and discover how you can live and work with joy and meaning. OPA!

OPA! AFFIRMATION

I find joy and meaning in my life when I live and work The OPA! Way.