My reflections and life lessons from walking El Camino in Spain - Part 2
I really wasn’t sure that I should do it. When I first decided to go on a girls’ trip to Spain to hike El Camino de Santiago, the conversation was happening in the Fall of 2019, before the pandemic. And the trip was planned for Fall of 2020. Of course, after the pandemic hit, we decided as a group to put it off for a year, never thinking that we would still be facing that same decision a year later.
It was meant to be a celebration and healing journey for a lot of things. A few of us turned 50 in 2020 and 2021. We sent kids off to college. We had milestone marriage celebrations. It felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity: to spend time with girlfriends both old and new, to spend time in nature and challenge our bodies, and to spend time with our own spirituality and purpose exploration. Yes, we could go walk El Camino de Santiago in Spain another time, but not at this point in time in our lives. Not with this group of women. All of that was only happening now.
But I was hesitant. I was filled with anxiety. I was traveling overseas by myself during a pandemic. I was leaving my husband and highschooler at home, with another son at college for his first semester, and I faced the potential for getting stuck or even sick overseas.
Why did I go? I decided that anything that is “once in a lifetime” requires great risk and potentially great cost. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be “once in a lifetime.” The risk wasn’t greater than the reward.
So I went. And prayed as I went. And trusted that it would all be okay. And I’m so incredibly grateful that I did. It was incredible. I’m so glad I went with those women, at that time in our lives.
Here’s a few of lessons that I took away from the experience:
Fear can stop you from missing out on some of the greatest moments of your life.
(I struggled over my decision to go).
Once in a lifetime activities require risk. (Yes, I could have gone another time. But not with these people, at this season of life).
You can choose to see situations as stressful.
And you can choose to turn stressful situations into an easier one.
You can pass judgement. Or you can accept people and places as they are.
You can argue. Or you can listen.
We all have something to learn from others. Even the challenging ones. Sometimes, especially the challenging ones.
You get to choose your thoughts about all of it.
Coming home is the best feeling in the world.
The gift of friendship, community, and connection are incredibly important to our happiness.
Make the time. Foster them.
Meet new people and see their gifts.
Live in a place of curiosity, grace, and love.
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