Greece 2026: Moments — A Form of Longevity
Yiasas!
To live in the moment, to live fully, and to do it with people you love is truly a pillar of wellness in the mind, body and spirit.
For the past three decades my Koumbaro Lee (Hlias) has been sharing his life with my family and me in the form of storytelling.
Every tale illustrates an image of where he was born, how he grew up and what island life was all about as a young man. Each narrative, all of it sprinkled with stories of his three brothers and four sisters Panagioti, Stella, Kosta, Chrysoula, Despina, Mamas and his only surviving sibling -Evagelia warmed our hearts for years.
Each time Lee shared his memory with us, we heard about two very important saints from his beloved island; Saint Markella the patron saint of Chios and Saint Mamas who inspired an entire community to use the name MAMAS for their sons.
We heard about the epic original stone garden, and we learned about sea life and mastica. We became familiar with an authentic feeling of familial love and the real expression of philoxenia- hospitality.
The spirit of Chios through Lee’s eyes, compelled us to finally book our flights to Greece contingent upon him joining us to live it in real time. He agreed and we moved forward to embody our great Koumbaro Lee’s narrative.
Since we were making the transatlantic journey, we made time to visit my only living Thea Esteroula (92) in my father’s village Zevgolatio. We stopped by Athens to refresh our Hellenic pride at the Parthenon and of course a trip to Pylos was mandatory to catch up with our friend Mikey and his wife Niki about olive oil, life in Messenia where parts of the movie “The Odyssey,” was filmed.
Final stop- Kefalonia, the island that brings people from all over the world to visit the relics of Saint Gerasimos- the patron saint of mental health. An Ionian island that mesmerizes with its turquoise waters, Melissani Cave, rugged mountains, top rated beaches and fresh caught delicate and pristine fish that makes one’s mouth water.
Incidentally, do you know why people from all walks of life rave about the taste of the fish in Greece? It’s because the flavor and health benefits are derived from the salt that is in the Mediterranean Sea which is home to this succulent water animal. These fish live in an environment which adds zing and zest to their being.
I would say that the Mediterranean Sea and all it does for the life that lives there is a great parallel to how we humans should live, and that is to choose a place that nourishes us.
At least we can consciously improve our current environment as much as possible for our health benefits. More on that next time.
For now, inarguably the life-giving nature of this majestic land—the sea, fresh home-cooked meals, warm people, family living, the history, breathtaking views, and authentic philoxenia—is truly life-changing. Visiting the cradle of Western civilization leaves an indelible mark, adding years to your life and life to your years.
My message today is simple:
GO TO GREECE at least once in your lifetime and get that loving feeling.
“Don't wait for the perfect moment—take the moment and make it perfect.”
You will remember it all your life.
Sending you Filakia-Kisses
& Ola kala,
Kiki