Initial Thoughts
It’s been almost two weeks since I returned from my 500 mile walk on The Camino de Santiago. Every day I’ve run in to at least one person with the questions, “well?” “What did you learn?” “What epiphany did you have?” “How did it change you”?
With each inquiry, I find myself feeling completely overwhelmed. I believe I’m still unpacking all that goes with being able to walk away from everyday responsibilities for six weeks, and replacing it with one responsibility. Walking.
I didn’t have to work, I didn’t have to take care of my home, my dog, my child or do any one of the million responsibilities we all have every day. All I had to do was put on clothes (often dirty) and walk. That alone was the gift of a lifetime. I’m sure I’ll be receiving the benefits of this gift for years to come.
The Camino Frances, (the path I chose) begins in the Basque region of France at the base of the Pyrenees mountains. It spans 500 miles to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Thousands of people from all over the world walk this path every year. Some for religious reasons, some for their own spiritual pursuits and some possibly just to experience the feeling of doing something physically and mentally challenging. Fifteen to 20 miles a day on foot is not an easy journey. Whatever the reason, The Camino always provides.
Bucket List
I had this adventure on my bucket list and had planned to go next year, but when my father suddenly passed away last November, it was a reminder to stop waiting for the perfect time. Do your life now.
When I say, “suddenly,” I meant suddenly for myself and my family. My Dad was just short of his 96th birthday and had an amazing life. He was still working, exercising regularly and cooking bi monthly dinners for his grandchildren, so when he didn’t feel well one Sunday and was gone in less than a full week, it was sudden for us.
It left me untethered. I had been lucky enough at 58 to have not experienced the loss of a parent yet and then it hit like a ton of bricks.
I thought The Camino would be a good opportunity to sit with my grief and explore it without interruption.
I went with my friend, Nicole and we were perfect travel buddies. We didn’t spend our days chitchatting, but in deep thought. Walking for hours in silence, most of the time not even side by side. Allowing ourselves our own perfect stride. Each night, we enjoyed dinner together and recounted our days. We giggled with exhaustion and ripped out the pages of our guidebook with pride of another day accomplished.
Things I Learned
It’s going to take months, maybe years to unravel all the thoughts I had as I walked through field after field, up mountains, down mountains, through ancient villages, through newer cities. Through a hurricane, days of wind and rain and days of beautiful sun. It’s an experience like no other.
Two weeks later, here’s how I feel…
We’re only here for a minute. That’s how short life feels to me right now. I thought about the thousands of people that walked the exact same path before me dating back to the 9th century. When we’re in our 20’s, we feel we have so much time. I literally feel like I was 20 yesterday. It whizzes by.
We met so many people from many countries and many cultures, all speaking different languages. Kindness is global. It reminded me in a world filled with angst and pain, that many, many people are good and kind and just want to feel seen and heard.
Although he is no longer physically here, in the silence, I felt my Dad. I feel all the wisdom he passed on, all the encouragement he gave me and all the love. He’s inside my own spirit now, present every day.
The Blue Zone is real! Movement, healthy food, community and your spirituality are the keys to longevity. You don’t have to be a professional athlete. The average age of people walking The camino is 60! Don’t stop moving just because you’re aging. Get rid of processed food from your diet. Your great grandchildren will thank you.
It took about a week to let go of the thousands of thoughts zooming through my head. Is everyone ok? What if someone needs me? Is my son ok? What if something happens to a family member? What did I forget to take care of? Then, one day, I was walking through a beautiful field of Sunflowers just past their peak when I realized that I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I wanted this time for myself, I made a plan, I am fortunate to have incredible people doing an incredible job so I can take the time and I needed to let go of the “what ifs.”
Even in a hurricane, walking became a meditation and I was happy every day. I might be home now, but I know I’ll never stop receiving the messages from The Camino.
If there is something YOU’VE been dreaming of, stop putting it off.
Begin now.