The Meaning of "OPA!"
Why does this Greek expression get me all geeked up?
I recently turned 50, but I’ve been Greek my whole life. So why did it take me almost half a century to realize that my olive-loving ancestors knew the secret to a happy life? It’s actually so simple that it can be summed up in one word…OPA!
WHERE DOES “OPA!” COME FROM?
Throughout Greece (and anywhere else you’ll find a Greek), exclamations of “OPA!” are plentiful. This common Greek saying has ancient roots dating back to the writings of Homer, revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet and author of the classic works of literature, The Iliad and the Odyssey.
OPA! is a Greek expression that is heard often in the celebration of life. I’m sure you’ve heard it at a Greek restaurant when someone has broken a plate, at a Greek wedding or festival amid dancing or if you're into Greek-themed movies…My Big Fat Greek Wedding anyone?
THE TRUE MEANING OF “OPA!”
While there’s definitely a silly side to the Greeks that often comes out in any given “OPA!” moment, the truth is this Greek expression is much more than simply a word. At its core, it’s actually more of a concept that serves to remind us that we should live life to the fullest—in both our personal life and in work life.
From its ancient roots, the Greek saying “OPA!” can be viewed as two sides of the same coin: one side refers to the uplifting boisterous expression that is often heard during a celebration; the other refers more seriously to the human need to stay alert and awake to life’s potential opportunities. In this respect, the two interdependent sides of the Greek concept of OPA! are similar to the holistic concept of the yin and yang which embodies balance and harmony. Who would’ve thought that ancient Greek and Chinese philosophy could possibly intersect?
OPA! is concept that we can all use as a mantra to remind us how to live and work with meaning. To seek purpose with zeal and spirit. To remember to connect, have fun and celebrate, yet remain vigilant and aware of all the things that can detour the process of living a fulfilled life. After all, an “OPA!” is always in our back pocket when we need some inspiration to remain hopeful that we can thrive in our existence - even in the chaos of today’s way of life.
MY “OPA!” AUDIT: THE MODERN-DAY EXISTENTIAL CRISIS
So why did it take a lifetime to realize that the benefits of OPA! were right under my nose for my entire existence? I mean, the concept isn’t exactly foreign to me given that I’m 100% Greek (I’ll spare you the humorous stories of growing up in a Greek-American household for now). My Greek heritage aside, I had to burn out, slow down, and have a mini existential crisis the likes of which would make any ancient Greek philosopher proud to finally have my OPA! moment. It wasn’t really a moment per se- more of a culmination of angst from getting warped by modern day culture that eventually caused me to audit my life. I have since coined this exercise as my “OPA! Audit”.
After all, I was really in need of finding greater joy and meaning after years of succumbing to societal expectations. Somehow, my spirit awakened in the nick of time. I just had enough of being a passenger in my life. Was I really going to embark on my second century on this planet on auto-pilot feeling as if life was devoid of any meaning? That my current existence was the only way to survive in this culture of more, bigger, better and faster? I couldn’t. Not if I wanted to make the most of the time I was alive.
While money can be spent and earned back, I realized that time cannot. It’s gone once it’s spent. That’s where my OPA! Audit came in to save the day. Stepping back to examine my life for the first time was severely eye opening. I never could’ve expected the the level of awareness - of everything - that suddenly unfolded. Why was I chasing things without any real intention and then wondering why I felt so empty? With this question came the desire to delve into a deeper meaning of myself so I could finally figure out who I really wanted to be and what kind of future I really wanted instead of who I thought everyone thought I should be.
At the end of the day, I guess I had an existential crisis of my own. I just think it’s a lot cooler to call it an “OPA! Audit”. Is something inside you stirring the need to have an OPA! Audit of your own? No flaming cheese necessary for this kind of OPA! (though I’ve still never met a gooey Saganaki dish I didn’t like). Just take a cue from the Greeks if you really want to find more meaning, build resilience, foster joyful engagement with life and live in health & well-being……..OPA!
As I go on, I plan to share more about my OPA! Audit, the behind-the-scenes secret wellness benefits of the Greek way of life, and pay homage to my Greek roots (hopefully with some humor) in the hope that doing so will help awaken more people to the possibility that we can be happy, fulfilled, curious human beings in this crazy modern world. Stay tuned for some uniquely insightful stuff (but nothing “stuffy") in the form of some musings, tips, reminders, videos, chats, an original poem or song to stir your thoughts all coming in the near future...and much, much more. Also, be on the lookout for my free newsletter which I plan to deploy soon. I hope to inspire as many people as possible!