Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Day 86

Six miles!

A couple of powerful messages made their way into my walk today. The first came after seeing a hawk in flight with something in its talons. I realized that while there are some who are willing to scoop you up and carry you, not everyone does so with the intention of helping you get further along your path.

The second message was delivered courtesy of the river. If you are walking next to the river, it doesn't matter if you are headed upstream or downstream. It's only when you finally get in the river that you feel the difference between going with the flow or against it. The same with life. Get in your life. Experience the flow. Feel the energy!

And for today, that's all I have.



Monday, July 23, 2012

Day 84

Look at those days ticking by so quickly. The big trip just keeps getting closer. I feel like I'm still on schedule. Right where I should be. Although to be honest, I could work a little harder. Prepare a little more. Be a little more diligent in my efforts. But this is a journey of no judgments and no fear. What will be, will be. In the end I will have become a different person. A better person. I will have learned a lot and experienced even more. It will change me forever. I look forward to that.

Today I went back to the beginning and started marking the 1st of each month with the day number, from 1 to 366, so I can keep better track of where I am in the big picture. I have also begun checking into flights and trains and the other details needed to get to the start of the Camino and then home after it's over. It looks like the best plan is to fly round-trip to Madrid then take a train to St. Jean Pied-du-Port, then back to Madrid by train from Santiago de Campostela. That news brought tears to my eyes. I've always wanted to see Madrid, so I couldn't be more excited. My walk will also take me through some other major cities such as Pamplona, Burgos and Leon and through some stunning countrysides. Beautiful art and architecture feed my soul like nothing else and I'm excited to find the same connection with nature.

I found a comprehensive website which will help me immensely. Even if it doesn't answer all of my questions, it will at least give me an idea about what questions to ask. If you're interested in learning more about what this is all about, it's at Camino de Santiago - The pilgrimage routes. The website shows you the different routes available. I plan to take the main route - the Camino Frances - although that may change if I decide to avoid the major climb through the Pyrenees on my very first day. There are some amazing pictures and a suggested 31-day timeline. I don't intend to push myself hard enough to complete this in 31 days. I have set a target of 60 days with some of those days being "days off" to explore and sightsee. Oh and maybe to rest. Maybe.

For now, I'm still trudging along at 5 miles a day. Soon I plan to take a day and do 10 miles. After that, I'll need to start doing some mountainous hiking trails and adding weight in a backpack.

"No matter how dark the dark, it can never extinguish the light of even the tiniest candle." ~A message given to me during meditation


Saturday, July 7, 2012

Day 68

I know, I know. There are no excuses, but I got off track. I injured my foot somehow, and it's just now healed well enough for me to walk long distances again. I also hit a huge wall called "Lack of Motivation" after I allowed people and their opinions get in my head and take over. But that's all in the past. So let me just re-state my intention here, for me as well as for anyone else who might read this. I AM walking the Camino de Santiago through Spain next May. This blog is, and will continue to be, about my journey to that goal - physically, spiritually and mentally.

Today is my birthday. It is also the beginning of a Personal Year One according to numerology. It will be a year of fresh starts and new beginnings. My arms are wide open, ready to receive the amazing things coming my way. I deserve these things. I have worked very hard to clear out the things that no longer served me, and to make room for new opportunities. It's time to let some things in. To take the risk that by letting things in, I will eventually have to let them go. I am OK with that. I'm stepping through the fear and into love.

I started my day with a new book called, "The Magic" by Rhonda Byrne, author of "The Secret". This book goes more in-depth about the practice of gratitude. In fact, it's designed to be read over the course of 28 days. Each day a different exercise in gratitude is practiced. At the end, a new habit has been formed. The habit of seeing everything as a blessing for which to be grateful. There's no better day to start this, since I am being reminded of my amazing family and friends wishing me a beautiful day as my iPhone blows up with notifications. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And now, I'm headed out to get back on track with my walking. It's a gorgeous Colorado day. Time to go enjoy it.

"Everything is energy and that's all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics." ~Albert Einstein