Pierce ‘67 alumna Fotini Tsalikoglou, author, psychologist, and professor of Psychology at Panteion University, was recently interviewed on the newspaper Imerisia. In a poetic interview, Tsalikoglou explores the elusiveness of happiness and the effect that the financial crisis and the “national mourning” phenomenon has had on our relationship with our self and others. “Life is never as bad, nor as wonderful as we imagine it to be, it is however all we’ve got,” said Tsalikoglou.
Upon discussing the power of hope and its inherent danger, the author stated that “Never before has there been such use and abuse of the word hope.” Hope, much like medicine she explained, can save someone… but it can also become toxic to its host.
The author was asked about her book Το Ευτυχισμένο Νησί (The Happy Island), and if its message of hope can be helpful in navigating the current situation in Greece. “The Happy Island is a fairy tale” Tsalikoglou answered, “a tale that mocks unconditional happiness. Happiness that is based on masking trauma and sorrow. But the masked pain, the pain buried in the depths of our soul, at some point comes back and takes revenge. It leaves us unarmed, unprepared to face the inevitable hardships of life. Fairy tales, like Hans Christian Andersen once said, are for children to go to sleep, and for adults to wake up.”
To read Tsalikoglou’s full interview with Hara Kalimeri on Imerisia, please click here (GR).