Living on Purpose: What Does Your Name Mean to You?
By: Nikoleta Mavrigiannaki
Tags: Horoscopes, Life, Greece, Storytelling, Astrology

Living on Purpose: What Does Your Name Mean to You?

It’s the summer of 2006. I graduate from university and return to Chicago. In August, I depart from the US for the first time, traveling to the home country of my father: Greece. I remember everything.

The sun, the sea, the ouzo.

The salt, the breeze, the cigarettes.

The grilled octopus, the sweltering dance floor, the olive skin.

The curly hair, the sparkling eyes, the mischievous grin.

I am home.

2019

“Greek Nicole”, as my cousin referred to me, was led by her heart. Senses intoxicated. She rode a μηχανάκι (motorbike), played cards with the local Albanians and fell in love at first sight.

When she applied for a Greek passport, it was a simple process. She was Nikoleta Mavrigiannaki — when she chose to be.

From then on, I travelled to Greece regularly. One summer, I changed my ticket every week to extend my stay. I ended up living out the entire summer on the island. I was so alive.

Whenever I journeyed back to the states, I felt heartbroken — like I had been leaving a piece of myself behind.

My passport expired 7 years ago —the perfect number.

I’m up for renewal. Regeneration, reintegration, revival. This time, with intent.

2007

A week ago, my sister told me she was renewing her passport. I followed suit and booked an appointment at the Greek Embassy in Los Angeles. As I walk up to the window of the consulate office, a young woman in the waiting area asks me (in Greek) if I knew her. I told her that I didn’t, as I had just driven up from San Diego. We smiled warmly.

The woman behind the glass handed me some paperwork that I couldn’t read — I sat next to the young woman and asked for help. We relived lifetimes together as we joked about the complexities of the Greek embassy.

My documents were reviewed and I was informed that they would not be able to reissue my passport. The name on my passport does not match the name on my CA driver’s license. How did you even get this name? “It is on my baptism papers. It’s my Greek identity.”

“I did drive quite a bit to get here, is there anything I can do?”

You have two options.

One is to go to Greece and change your documents to your American name, Nicole Mavros. The second is to stay where you are, connect to your roots, acknowledge all that needs integration, make a conscious decision to merge your ‘identities’, and evolve under the name of Nikoleta Mavrigiannaki.

I chuckle. The universe tickles me yet again.

The woman behind the window looks sad. I’m sorry that I can do nothing else for you. “You have done all that I needed, ευχαριστώ (thank you)!”

The young woman looks up and remarks, “and the plot thickens”…

I turn to her and ask if she writes. She says, “yes, how did you know?”

“You feel like a writer”, I tell her.

“That’s the best thing I have heard all day.”

Aegina, Greece

I left the consulate office — glowing. I had been using another pronunciation of my name, ‘Neekol’, as well as Nikoleta for some time. I never realized the hidden meaning of having ‘two identities’. I will let this one simmer. After all, integration is the theme of this upcoming week. As far as the young woman… we shared the elevator, I guessed her zodiac sign and we exchanged info. Χάρηκα, Τερέζα.

😊