"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." - Tony Robbins
Taking the First Step on an Ancient Path
Nobody walks "the way" by mistake. The Camino de Santiago, a centuries-old spiritual pilgrimage, attracts thousands of seekers annually who feel drawn to its life-changing promise. Last September, my husband, daughter, and I shouldered our backpacks and set off with excitement and trepidation. Over the next 32 days, we would walk an incredible 842 kilometres, forever changing our perspective on what truly matters in life.
Six months have passed since we completed our pilgrimage, and I can say with certainty: the Camino doesn't just end when you reach Santiago. Its lessons continue to shape my daily existence in ways I never imagined possible.
When Life's Path Becomes Unclear
While walking the Camino, I listened to Matthew McConaughey's "Green Lights" – a book that strangely mirrored our Camino experience. Though the physical path was usually well-marked with yellow arrows and scallop shells, we occasionally missed signs, wandering off-course and adding unwanted kilometres to our already challenging day.
In those moments of confusion, frustration would bubble up – hadn't we walked far enough already? But isn't this precisely how life works? Sometimes, we miss important signs, get distracted, and find ourselves walking in the wrong direction entirely, using precious energy on paths that don't serve our life’s purpose.
The Great Equalizer: Our Shared Humanity
Perhaps one of the most beautiful revelations came through the people we met along the way. On the Camino, the distant chaos of the outside world had completely faded away, and only our shared humanity connected us all.
Job titles, social status, political beliefs – none of these mattered on the Camino trail. Every pilgrim shared the same basic daily goals: securing a bed in an albergue (hostel), enjoying a hot shower, and finding nourishing food after walking all day. Some days, meeting these simple needs became challenging as hostels quickly filled up or hot water ran out. The Camino experience stripped away all human pretence and simply revealed our shared humanity.
When the circumstances grew difficult, I discovered an unexpected deeper well of faith within myself. The Camino taught me that life's greatest challenges often do reveal our deepest reserves of inner strength.
Wisdom Gathered Along "The Way"
The Camino’s path provided me with these teachings about life's true meaning:
- Accept & endure change. When life’s conditions are harsh, remember that everything is only temporary – discomfort and challenges will always pass.
- We're walking each other home. Every person you meet is a fellow pilgrim on your life's journey. Reaching Santiago was surprisingly anticlimactic – the true meaning and treasure were revealed to us in the journey itself, in who we are becoming along the way.
- Simplicity reveals abundance. Material possessions mean nothing compared to character and humanity. The simple essentials are all we truly need; everything else is a real bonus to be grateful for.
- Accept all life's varied terrain. The Camino mirrors life and presents many ups, downs, exhilarating views, and boring, mundane stretches. Acceptance for all of it makes the journey much smoother.
- Stay aligned with your integrity. Follow your inner compass and the signposts meant for your path. When lost, be humble enough to accept guidance from fellow travellers who support your journey to the final destination.
- Find gratitude in small comforts. A hot shower, clean sheets, privacy, a good meal – these "basics" filled me with so much gratitude and revealed themselves to be my craved-for luxuries when temporarily unavailable.
- Trust the path. Your life path, like the Camino, is already mapped out; your destination always awaits. Even when you can't always see the signs or the bigger picture yet keep moving forward with faith.
- The present moment. The path behind is gone, the path ahead unknown. All we truly have is now.
- Carry your burdens with purpose. I grew to appreciate my backpack's weight, which now serves as my daily reminder that strength and resilience come as a result of carrying the burden of life's challenges. Carrying our burdens while lifting our prayers makes the load feel lighter and easier over time.
- Look inward for solutions. Pointing fingers outward only distracts you from finding your true direction.
- Share the weight of a burden. When my back gave out, my husband carried my pack alongside his own so I could continue.
Galatians 6:2 “Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
I am still reflecting on our Camino journey half a year later, these valuable lessons continue to guide my daily steps. The physical pilgrimage may have ended, but the spiritual journey always continues with each step forward.
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Take the First Step
Have you considered walking with a weighted backpack? Watch the video below to discover the health benefits associated with trucking.
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