The reasons people walk the camino are as vast and diverse as the pilgrims themselves. Since I’ve been walking, I’ve heard of many reasons people walk The Way. When you commit to walking such a far distance, you need to have a reason.
Of course, there are the fitness gurus who wanted a challenge or those who just wanted to see the Spanish countryside. However, for some it’s purely spiritual. I met two Chilean priests who were walking the Camino for personal reflection. I came across other religious persons, a monk from Poland and a nun (from?) who are also using the Camino for a time of spiritual reflection. Then I heard of a couple who started in St. Jean. When asked why they are walking, they mentioned the movie, The Way with Martin Sheen. The question to them was, why walk based on a movie? Well, it turns out their son had died 5 years before and the movie really resonated with them. I think the death of a loved one is a common reason people walk The Way. This could be the death of a parent, spouse, child, or friend. In a strange way, walking gives you time to grieve and it seems like a perfect way to deal with death. I, myself, seem to have several reasons for walking the Camino. I am walking for both Joe and I, since he cannot physically do so, but it’s much more than that. We’ve been through a lot in our first 16 years of marriage -- deaths of my mom, stepfather, grandmother, and grandfather; health issues for both of us; constantly moving for school/work. We reached a point last year where we just wanted to stop moving and picked a lovely place to live. I need this time in Spain to reflect on my life; but I also wanted to challenge myself. This Camino has been a challenge to be sure, both physically and mentally. Physically, I’m not the most fit person on the planet and some of the days were harder than others. Mentally, it’s a challenge to get up every day, pack up your things and walk 20-25 km. There are times when you just want to take a car, bus, or train to the next town. Why walk? And I’m in a country where not many people speak English and I speak very little Spanish. I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself and have gotten completely out of my comfort zone, which is good. So, everyone has a different reason to walk The Way and doing this takes a special person. Should you want to do this in the future, you need to find your own reason for embarking on the journey, even if it is as simple as just meeting different people from around the world and seeing Spain. It’s your journey. Your Way. Buen Camino!
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About Marcy I wear many hats. First, I'm a wife to an amazing husband, Joe. Second, I'm a mom to 2 incredible kids, Caitlynn and Miles. Professionally speaking, I am a chef, dietitian, and writer working as an instructor in Hospitality Management at Montana State University in Bozeman. Photos: See InstagramMarcy's other Site |