Life after the Camino – The Return

During my first Camino in 2011, I already knew that I would be returning to undertake the journey again. I wasn’t sure at the time when this return would be, but as sure as I knew originally that I would experience the Camino, I knew that my feet would again travel the same roads pilgrims have traveled for hundreds of years.

Part of me had gained some knowledge which made the idea of return easy. No longer did I worry about finding a bed, finding my way, and about the imposing distance. Those worries were put to rest during the first journey. I felt I knew more about the Camino itself – the regions, the weather, the sites, and the various physical challenges.

I did, however, question why, even though armed with such knowledge I was anxious about my return. As my return date approached, I thought about this often. I believe in my personal case, it is the unknown of what I haven’t experienced yet. I compare it to learning how to play the classical guitar. I knew learning to play would be a big undertaking, but it wasn’t until I actually started to learn to read music, to play chords and melodies that I understood just how complex and never-ending the learning would be. The more I learned, the more I realized how little I knew or would ever know.

The Camino brings much to each and every one of us who undertakes its journey. From speaking to those who have returned often, each journey brings some of the known, but often, more of the unknown. They see the Camino with some level of comfort based on past experiences but mostly with a different view.

I know for myself there will be more focus on the spiritual side of the journey. Why is this? My first Camino was experienced shortly after my departure from a career that spanned more than 30 years, of which the last few years were spent at a frenetic pace. I foolishly believed I could “shed” my old lifestyle during my Camino journey. I didn’t comprehend at the time that this shedding needed to happen over a period of time much longer than the six weeks I spent in Spain.

Two years have passed since my lifestyle change and I can say with some level of assurance that I have a much clearer mind, a more open heart, and a greater yearning for introspection. My preparation this time is mostly spiritual with some level of physical conditioning. I am finding my need for control over the schedule, the route, and the planning has almost vanished, to be replaced by a “live in the moment” approach.

Regardless of how I approach my return to the Camino I am sure of one thing – I will make the most of every moment and will once again have a ¡buen Camino!