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The Camino before the Camino





"Walking takes longer than any other known form of locomotion except crawling. Thus, it stretches time and prolongs life. Life is already too short to waste on speed." -Edward Abbey


Walking Spain's Camino de Santiago requires some training miles on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. That training requires some time, and this time teaches the Pilgrim that we are students on Camino before we ever get to Camino in Spain.


Training through Midwest Spring for our June 2025 Portuguese Camino Route has required many more miles and many more hours than I would normally give to walking during any other normal Spring. Here are some of its precious lessons:


  • The pace of walking requires us to slow down. Slowing down allows us to take in nature, to converse with friends, to be with oneself apart from the hurry and scurry of the day.

  • Nature quickens gratitude, wonder, awe. Fresh air and walking helps to regulate a stressed out nervous system.

  • Training encourages us to get past obstacles like that tree in the middle of the trail. Sore bodies, busy schedules, lack of motivation all threaten to keep us away from the path. Setting some training goals and committing to the work reminds us that we can only move toward the goal, step by step, mile by mile.

  • Camino means "the way" and all of the pre-trip Camino training is all just really good life teaching and wisdom for our daily journeys. Thus, we are already on Camino...this training just slows us down and wakes us up to make us more conscious to that fact.


 
 
 

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