by Cleopatra Myrianthopoulos
Cleopatra is a junior at Emory University studying International Studies and English. She grew up with Greek parents who always took her to Greece to appreciate the history and its culture. She loves spending time with her family, reading, and being in the outdoors.
I believe in the pursuit of adventure in ways that touch the soul stemming from different kinds of joy. Whether that be through trying something new or allowing myself to feel in ways that go beyond surface level, I live to create memories that remind me that we are more than just humans and have souls that connect us to something bigger. I smile at the thought of many memories that I have experienced. My last year was full of moments that brought me pure joy. I was able to study abroad in Portugal last spring.
During my time abroad, I made an unexpected friend who also treasured special moments. One of my favorite days was on a program trip with thirty other American students driving through Northern Portugal to explore the sites via bus. We had stopped in Porto to see the waves coming in from the Atlantic Ocean—it looked never-ending. My friend and I decided to go to the end of the pier where the waves were crashing over. Instead of worrying about getting wet from the waves, we ran back and forth, laughing. Perhaps the best moment was when we found ourselves drenched from the waves crashing on top of us. There was a brief moment of panic because our clothes were now soaked, but then the quick realization that it did not matter. Nature had taken over, and we had no control over the size of the waves. I felt alive. I felt one with nature. It was a moment of pure bliss in which I was able to feel happy simply because of my surroundings.
Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have spent many summers in Greece. Every time I go back, I often feel right at home, eating lamb off the spit or spending time in the mountain villages. This past year I was able to celebrate Orthodox Easter in Greece with my extended family for the first time.
One particular night during Holy Week is the night before Easter, called Ανάσταση (Anastasi). This past year my older cousin took me to a village known for how they celebrate. The church service begins around 11 p.m., and midnight signifies that Christ has risen. While I am used to the candle lighting and singing that typically occurs when the clock strikes; this time, lanterns overtook the sky above the church, and the bells were ringing repeatedly. I was outside and exhausted, but I could not help but be mesmerized by the lights filling up the sky. I was brought to tears during this beautiful moment as I once again found myself connecting with something bigger than myself in a way that was humbling. I thought of the loved ones that I knew were and still are struggling. I felt a pull towards the divine, and while that is unknown to me, it made me feel as though there was something more.
Moments like these often give us a chance to feel beyond the norm and to be part of something bigger than us. We so often find ourselves busy writing papers, going to work, dealing with personal issues, and so much more that being able to experience joy in this way is magical. It is important to strive for moments like these so that we can be reminded that there is so much more to life than we often realize and pure joy is often not easy to come by.
