And Here We Go…

A week from today, my Camino will come to an end. This Camino has been very different from our last one. For a while, I felt disconnected from my experience. Upon reflection though, I realized I was having a hard time because I felt uninformed about what to expect. There were no pilgrims to share their learned knowledge about the trail with us. The feeling of uncertainty was uncomfortable for me. Upon labeling what I was feeling, I decided I needed to focus on what I was grateful for in my Camino versus what I was lacking. Here are a few of my gratitudes.

Jim

No matter what, this man is always by my side. He makes me laugh heartily, extends his hand whenever I need support, and loves me beyond words. We may get on each other’s nerves occasionally, but we always manage to come back to who we truly are for each other. I cannot imagine doing this journey or life without him.

Health

Although I’ve been feeling slightly under the weather since yesterday (which I now know is because I’ve contracted COVID), I am extremely grateful for my health. Thus far, we have walked over 330 miles in 26 days. The terrain has been diverse – flat and paved, rocky, steep, sandy, steps and a combination of all these at once. My body, especially my feet, has taken a lot of pounding and my mind has been there to lift me up to keep moving forward. My physical and mental strength continues to surpass my expectations and for that I am filled with awe.

People

Even though we did not come across as many pilgrims leaving from Lisbon, we have met some amazing people since Porto. We met Tracy and Claudia at a laundromat and have had the good fortune of meeting up with them several times. Tracy is battling cancer for the second time and had a chemo treatment right before starting. Her determination is inspiring and her will is as well. Claudia is right by her side every step of the way.

On the day that we walked from Viana do Castelo to Caminha, we came upon a woman named Cristina. She had set up a small table on this small bridge with fruit and snacks for pilgrims. There was beautiful music playing in the background and a big sign saying “Hugs for pilgrims”. Cristina explained to me that she was a pilgrim herself, having done the Portuguese Camino several times. She told me that she had a son who was severely autistic and that she had made the difficult decision to place him in a special home. Having done this, she became depressed and lost herself. To recover, she decided to come back to the Camino to uplift pilgrims. As a recipient of one of her hugs, she’s doing an excellent job! 💜

The same day we met Tracy and Claudia we met Sara. She is a 24 year old who decided to do the Camino on her own. Sara has been a joy to walk and spend time with. We’ve been asked numerous times if she’s my daughter and my response is, “She’s my adopted daughter.” We’re in communication with each other every day since we met. Tracy and Claudia have graciously offered to watch over her now that she’s moved on from us for now. I’m so happy she’s in such good hands.

It’s so easy for us to focus on the negative. Our brains are actually hardwired to do that as a way to protect us from harm. Yet, to live a joyful, compassionate and fully present life, we have to focus on what is positive. Identifying gratitude takes work. It’s not automatic for us as humans; however, the more we practice gratitude, the more we can revel in its loveliness and feel alive.

With much gratitude to you all,

Kathy💜