I just returned from Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. For those interested in world history, Crete, among other things, was the center of the Minoan civilization (2600-1400 BCE), the oldest civilization in Europe. Although I had been to Crete before, this time proved to be one of the most meaningful life experiences for me.
Just in case you haven't read my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, or haven't figured out the ethnic origin of my last name, "Pattakos," let me help you. It's Greek. And more importantly, it's Cretan! Proudly, I can also say that the Pattakos clan, whose roots are deeply embedded in the "soul" of Crete, has been actively engaged in the political arena throughout Crete's history, long before it became an official part of Greece. In fact, my great-great-grandfather, Apostolos Konstantinos Pattakos, was a member of the First National Assembly of Crete (the equivalent of the U.S. Congress or a national Parliament) and was a leader in the "Great Cretan Revolution" against the Ottoman Empire.
Indeed, my Cretan ancestors were true revolutionaries in mind, body, and spirit. Their passion for freedom, in effect, can be traced to their DNA. Importantly, in this regard, the Pattakos clan originated from the Sfakiá region of Crete, a mountainous area in the southwestern part of the island that is one of the few places in Greece to never have been fully occupied by foreign powers. Hence, to them, "freedom or death," a notion that was eloquently described in a book, Freedom or Death, by the world-famous writer, novelist, and poet, Nikos Kazantzakis (himself a Cretan), was a way to realize in no uncertain terms their will to meaning. The prolific Kazantzakis, I should add, is best known for two novels that eventually became award-winning movies: Last Temptation of Christ and Zorba the Greek.
How many of you have seen the movie, Zorba the Greek? The title role of "Alexis Zorba" was played by the late, great American actor, Anthony Quinn, who received a "Best Actor" Academy Award nomination (the movie, by the way, won three Oscars). And if you haven't yet seen the movie (it's available on DVD), I'm sure that you are familiar with the movie's classic song, "Zorba's Dance" ("Horos Tou Zorba"), if not the entire soundtrack! Just thinking about this song makes me feel like dancing a la Zorba--and breaking a few plates!
Watch "Zorba's Dance" with Anthony Quinn on YouTube!
Click HERE
Well, folks, during my recent time in Crete, I did something very special in honor of my Cretan ancestors, in honor of Nikos Kazantsakis, and, of course, in honor of Alexis Zorba (aka Anthony Quinn). I not only visited, but danced, on the same beach, the same sand, as did Anthony Quinn in the movie, Zorba the Greek!
O.k., right now, your're probably saying, "how silly, is he crazy or what?!" But wait a minute. Remember Zorba, and the purpose and meaning that dance had in his life, especially when he found himself going against the wind and facing formidable challenges? Dance proved not only to be a "release," or way to manage stress, but also an "inspirational force" that guided him through the stress so that he could confront--and ideally overcome--the challenges that he was facing in life and work. This, my friends, is not just part of a storyboard that can be used in a movie scene. On the contrary, the longstanding tradition of Cretan dance is well-known and well-documented as a way of life, an authentic integration of mind, body, and spirit. Indeed, especially during hard times, such as those involving foreign occupation and oppression, the Cretans viewed and used dance as a vehicle for creative expression and inspiration; in other words, as a source of authentic meaning. It was the "dance" that helped my ancestors and their fellow Cretans not become "prisoners of their thoughts," even when they were prisoners of foreign powers. And it was the "dance" that enabled Alexis Zorba to see through the fog of everyday life and inspire himself and others to achieve their highest potential.
Only a very short time ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to practice the "dance" in the very footsteps of Zorba the Greek! In the process, I also connected with my ancestors, with my family roots, like never before. How can that not be meaningful?!
Now, what about you?
What kind of "dance" are you practicing in your life? In your work? How might (does) the "dance" help you discover the seeds of meaning that represent your life? Moreover, how have you been able to connect with your ancestors? Do you believe that such a connection can be a source of meaning for you?
If you are willing to share any experiences or thoughts about this topic, please do so.
I'd all love to hear from you, so that we can practice the "dance" together!
All the best,
Alex
Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
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NEW EDITION: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats! Prisoners of Our Thoughts applies Viktor Frankl's philosophy and therapeutic approach to life and work in the 21st century, detailing seven principles for increasing your capacity to deal with life-work challenges, finding meaning in your daily life and work, and achieving your highest potential. Among other changes, this new edition includes a new chapter on how readers of the hardcover edition have put the seven meaning-centered principles into action, both in their everyday lives and even in extreme situations such as in Indonesia after the tsunami (where several aid agencies adopted the book as part of their training and relief programs) and in post-Katrina New Orleans.
Hi Alex,
Lovely story. While I do enjoy dancing (and have too few opportunities for it) the larger way in which you use the term points to how we find ways to connect with the deeper meaningfulness in our lives in the face of stresses.
For myself, there are many ways this can manifest, but they are all connected with listening to the still small voice within that warns me when I'm getting out of balance and loosing my footing in life. When I heed that voice (and I have found that like anything, practice helps!) I am always guided or inspired to shift my attention and engagement to something else that inevitably clears my head and heart and brings some much needed perspective.
Whether it is going outside to do some yard work or to tackle some neglected item on my to do list at work, this shift, or "dance," brings me a welcomed relief from the stresses I have created by allowing myself to "believe" in the thoughts and perceptions that have built up this unbalance.
Jonathan Reams
Posted by: Jonathan Reams | September 21, 2007 at 12:49 AM
Alex - A wonderful story, and I canot help but thinking there must be someone there to take the picture. Were they dancing as well? ;)
It looks like you were in Crete during Aleco's recent time there. He is not dancing as much these days, as he just turned 70 Wednesday. But he and the Agoras Institute are working with the Cyprus peace dialogues in a dance of relationships to free the island of its millennia of discord. You can track their progress on: http://www.blogora.net/page/Cyprus+Civil+Society+Dialogue
Patricia and I have been involved in a dance movement happening in Toronto and Dayton. Perhaps its worldwide and we don't know it. In Dayton we hold Liberation Movement every week, with a 2-hour mix of music selected to animate the 5 Rhythms approach from Gabrielle Roth's Wave. Our good friend in Toronto Julia Ray has the very similar Tribal Trance Dance which draws about 50 people for a more ritualized version of the same inspiration.
We are dancing, with everyone, everywhere we go.
Pax, lux, bonum - Peter
Posted by: Peter Jones | September 21, 2007 at 07:12 AM
Tonight, remarkably, Zorba the Greek was on television. I have seen this movie several times before, but this time I remembered your story, Alex, and although I did not watch the entire movie again, I could literally breath in Alexis Zorba's lightheartedness. What a way of looking at life, especially when we realize that he, like most of us, was not spared from hardship. But his joie de vivre radiated all around, and he could awaken hidden senses in others in a most charming way! Most importantly, he was proud to be who he was, and he could laugh about himself.
I think those two qualities are invaluable to us: being proud of who we are and being able to laugh about ourselves. Unfortunately, many of us tend to forget where we came from. We become absorbed by the status quo, and get caught in the strife of everyday life. And with that, we forget the most elementary pleasure – the pleasure of simply being who we are and the gift of taking it all in the right spirit. I am not excluded from all of this. I find myself often taking matters too seriously, and stressing over them... until I take a step back to reflect and remember.
Zorba's messages are numerous. Passion, authenticity, and a zest for life come to mind as well. I think they're all tied together. I call it wakefulness. You call it meaning. We mean the same thing. It's about taking the time to smell the roses and reflect on what's really important. And to dance in the best way we can – with life as our partner. Cheers!
Posted by: Joan Marques | September 21, 2007 at 10:49 PM
Alex - Some fancy footwork on display in the photo!! My dancing these days is limited to threatening to "bust out some moves" when my two kids are watching Disney's "High School Musical 2" or listening (rather incessantly) to the HSM2 Soundtrack (they both groan - for good reason! - whenever I suggest that I might start dancing).
My connection to my family's roots has been a very meaningful experience for me. It's one that I have shared with my family and friends and am trying to pass on to my children. My great-grandfather was a Protestant Irishman. He worked for a very wealthy British, Protestant family. Because he was Irish, he was a servant. However, because he was Protestant, he was given a decent job, as the head Coachman for the family. His wife, who was Catholic, served as a cook for the family (the wait staff were all Protestants and would come into the kitchen to get the meals and therefore never had to interact with the Catholics who were preparing the meals).
My great grandfather and great grandmother lived above the stables, which by all accounts was a fairly decent place to live. However, my great-grandmother became deathly ill. My great-grandfather vowed to convert to Catholicism if she recovered. When she did recover, he converted to Catholicism and was promptly fired by his Protestant employer. Worse, he was blacklisted in the small, rural community (the only employers were British and/or Protestant) and could not find employment anywhere. The family, including 4 children, tried to eek out a living. His former employer took relish in running his horses through my great grandfather's garden, which was his only source of food.
The eldest daughter managed to make it to New York, where she worked as a nanny for the Abercrombie family. She saved enough money to bring the remainder of the family to the States. My grandfather became a NYC police officer (as did many Irish at the turn of the century). We have a fantastic photo of him from 1904 in a "Keystone Cop" hat!
Anyway, I've been back to Ireland once to find my great grandfather's house. Finding it was like trying to solve a mystery, as I had only snippets of information. Along the way I met several wonderful people who helped me trace my family's roots, including a parish priest who helped me find my grandfather's original baptismal record (from 1880). In the end, my wife and I were able to find my grandfather's original home as well as the estate where my great grandparents had worked (the mansion and the stable in which they lived are both still there).
My 73 year-old mother is now visiting Ireland with a tour group. Though this story relates to my late father's side of the family, my mother is making her own side trip to retrace my father's ancestry and to see the church, the house, and the estate on which my great grandparents worked.
I hope my own children will make that journey some day as well. It has served as a real source of meaning and connection for me. I hope it will serve the same role for them.
Posted by: Chris Kenny | September 30, 2007 at 07:24 AM
Great comments! Chris, thanks for sharing such an intimate story of your ancestry. It looks like you've been doing some "fancy footwork" too, as you journey back through time in order to path the way to the future for you and your family.
Joan, thanks for joining in on the dance of (That IS) life! Your insightful comments make Zorba proud!
Peter, I'm glad to hear that you have been taking "dance" to a new level. I'm very familiar with Gabrielle Roth's pioneering work, and even though she's not Greek, I love her philosophy and approach to dance!
And, Jonathan, thanks for remembering to stay "foot loose" and keep the dance alive in your heart and soul!
Yiassou, my friends!
Alex
Posted by: Alex Pattakos | September 30, 2007 at 02:55 PM