Sunrises to Santiago: Searching for Purpose on the Camino de Santiago by Gabriel Schirm

Author:Gabriel Schirm [Schirm, Gabriel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paz Publishing LLC
Published: 2015-06-13T21:00:00+00:00

Achilles Tendinitis

Trail Days 16—17

Dark clouds and steady rain greet us as we again find ourselves walking on old Roman roads at five o’clock in the morning. Our usual method of drying our clothes by pinning them to our backpacks is not working out.

Today I am really trying to focus on living in the moment. It is easy on the Camino to think of the kilometers. Just like life, you become obsessed with where you are going and where you have been. You really have to remind yourself to enjoy the experience while it lasts.

The rain continues to drizzle down, but our light rain jackets keep us relatively dry. I am focusing on a quote I like from Eckhart Tolle and The Power of Now: “As soon as you honor the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When you act out the present-moment awareness, whatever you do becomes imbued with a sense of quality, care and love—even the most simple action.” The simple action for today is walking, step-by-step, towards Santiago.

“It’s really beautiful out here today,” Amy observes.

“I know. What do you think it is about a pilgrimage that makes you grow as a person?” I ask.

She replies, “Maybe the fact that we are silent for hours. We’re in nature with no distractions and getting a chance to hear our own true inner voice. No television, no iPhone, no internet. Nothing at all to distract you from the lessons you need to learn.” We pass a clump of trees that break up the monotone gray mist; the tops of their branches are hidden in the fog.

“I agree,” I tell Amy. “It seems like life has far too many distractions. Back home, any chance at a silent or calming moment is gone when we reach for our phones to see what’s happening on Facebook, check out Instagram or whatever. At least I know I do. After which I always feel like crap because Facebook makes it seem like everyone else is having a way more fabulous life than I am. It is nice to have a break. I particularly love the fact that not a soul on Earth can call me right now. The phone will not ring. That is so liberating.” We continue over a wet gravel trail for hours. The silence is a sort of walking meditation.

During a break, we meet a mother and daughter from Florida who are walking together, and we strike up an interesting conversation. Janice, the mother, just got done working as a doctor in Haiti and now works as an acupuncturist. She explains her craft, which sounds like a fascinating profession.

“Maybe I should become an acupuncturist,” I tell Amy after they have moved ahead of us on the trail.

“Are you crazy!?” She laughs. “You hate needles!”

I tend to do this a lot. I latch on to any career idea that sounds interesting. This is a telltale sign of someone who is not satisfied with his or her own work life.

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