I recently spent a week in Greece and had the time of my life.
I swam in the Aegan sea, read in the sunshine, ate delicious Mediterranean food, met kind locals, and had several pinch-me moments where I felt so lucky to experience this ancient country and culture.
This sense of gratitude only compounded as my trip went on, and I ultimately came home (as I often do after traveling) with a renewed sense of purpose. Plus, a few new things in my carry-on: evil eye souvenirs, olive oil, and a general craving for feta and tzatziki.
I learned a saying that encompasses Greek culture: “siga, siga,” which translates to “slowly, slowly.” It means to take it easy or do things slowly.
On the positive side, it serves as a reminder to slow down and appreciate everything around us. It can be the smallest things:
- A cool breeze rippling softly against your skin
- The way flowers flutter in the wind
- How good a yummy breakfast and hot coffee (or matcha) hit first thing in the morning
And it can be big things:
- The health of your family and yourself
- Having a job and secure finances
- Living with goals and purpose
How often do you really slow down to appreciate these things? Daily? Quarterly? Once a year?
Remember: Siga, siga.
Sip your coffee slowly. When you move your body, be grateful for the healthy joints and limbs that get you where you want to be. We can choose to find moments of gratitude even in the most mundane tasks.
Chatting with locals I discovered the cons of a “siga, siga” mentality. Which only felt fair to mention. A lack of job opportunities and frustration with the economy came up a few times in casual conversations.
When asking locals how long they’d been in a city or doing their job, for example, I can’t tell you how many times I heard sentences that started with “I used to do X but now have to do Y.” Or “I used to live in X city but had to move here to find a better job.”
Behind the sparkling sea and island hopping lies an internal struggle that many tourist destinations are familiar with.
I befriended a local taxi driver, Christos, who took me to a few places in Athens, his home city. He was a striking old man, with long silver hair, and spoke perfect English with a charming accent.
I learned through our car conversations that Christos is a former physics professor who dreams of living in Crete, his favorite island. However, due to the lack of job opportunities and economic constraints, he stays in Athens.
Traveling anywhere is a privilege. Even in your own country.
That was the reminder Christos gave me (along with a list of islands to visit that I’d never heard of).
If you have the means and ability to travel, I hope it’s not lost on you how lucky we are to visit new places, experience unique cultures, and realize how different life can be based solely on circumstance.
I hope it fills your mind with wonder and your heart with love.
