Daily Anticipation

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to do something that many have as an item on their bucket list. I walked the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. 

The Camino de Santiago actually consists of many different routes, all ending in Santiago de Compostela, where the bones of St. James the Apostle are reputed to be buried within the cathedral. My friends and I took the most common route, the one featured in the movie “The Way” with Martin Sheen. It’s called the Frances or French route and is 800 kilometres.

There are many different reasons for making this pilgrimage as there are pilgrims. Historically, this was a religious pilgrimage, and it still is for many. For others, it’s a challenge and an opportunity to test strength and endurance. For some, it’s a way to see Spain and experience the culture and see the sights. For most, it’s a bit of all those reasons. 

On April 16, my friends and I set out from Saint Jean Pied de Port, a small town in France near the French-Spanish border, and crossed the Pyrenees into Spain, passing through many towns, villages, and cities as we walked from east to west for six weeks across northern Spain to Santiago. 

Most mornings we rose early, donned our backpacks, and walked to the nearest bar or café to buy breakfast. We fell in love with café con leche, and took every opportunity to indulge in Spanish cuisine. We’d typically walk seven to eight hours per day, stopping for occasional rests and lunch until we decided on a place to stop and spend the night. Sometimes we’d book ahead, but more often than not, we took our chances and just showed up. 

Although there are many types of accommodation, we chose to stay in hostels for an average cost of eight euros per night. These hostels, called albergues, were pretty basic: a bunk bed (bottom bunk if you were lucky) and a blanket, paper sheets (or actual linens if you were lucky), and shared bath/shower facilities. One of my challenges was not knowing what to expect or how many people I’d be sharing a room with—anywhere from 4 to 70 each night!

Once we arrived at an albergue, we’d shower away the sweat and dust, wash our clothes and hang them out to dry, then get some rest before dinner. Many albergues and restaurants offer a “pilgrim meal” for dinner following siesta, which is still observed throughout Spain. For eight euros, one can enjoy a hearty three-course meal, including beer, wine, or water. The water is more expensive than the beer and wine!

We woke up to sunshine most mornings. Each day was a fresh start and we were full of anticipation to see new sights and meet new folks from so many different countries, as well as the locals. One of the joys of walking the Camino is the friends one makes. There is a fellowship that develops as you keep coming across the same people again and again. These people from all over the world begin to feel like family.

Most people who have undertaken this pilgrimage will say that walking the Camino was life-changing. Personally, I have found that my outlook on life and work has changed in some profound ways. I’ve been back now for almost three months and I’m still assimilating, still processing and applying some of what I learned into my everyday life back at home. On the Camino, you’re rarely asked about the work you do, you’re simply accepted at face value as a fellow pilgrim. Conversations revolve around blisters, muscle pain, and your reasons for deciding to walk 800 kilometres. On the Camino, what you do for a living doesn’t define who you are. 

When I first got back, I missed the excitement and anticipation of new experiences with every sunrise. I gradually came to realize that this can still be part of every day, whether walking the Camino or simply going about the usual business. 

Now that I’m back at my job and have readjusted to a regular routine, there is still a sense of daily anticipation. Every day still presents opportunities for personal growth, for meeting new people or establishing deeper connections, for making valuable contributions to the lives of others through the work I do. We can all make the conscious choice to savour each new day and simply live to the fullest capacity!