This fall, I was fortunate to walk the Portuguese Coastal Route of the Camino de Santiago. It is one of a network of medieval paths, that date from the 9th century, that pilgrims walked to Santiago, Spain where the apostle James is reputedly buried.
Along the route, shopkeepers, townspeople, fellow pilgrims, and little old ladies hanging out of second story windows wished me a “Buen Camino” which means “good way.” At times, I walked and talked with the friends with whom I traveled. Other times, I walked with strangers from every continent except Africa. I walked for several miles with an Australian man who owned a box manufacturing company, a short time with a father and son duo from a small town near Madrid, and a mile or so with a group of singing, flag-bearing folks hailing from the Canary Islands (woohoo for Spanish practice!).
The vistas were amazing… from the beaches and rocks of the Atlantic coastline to the Celtic ruins high in the hills. The walk was, at different times, exciting, painful, fun, contemplative, and tedious. For some, this was an active vacation and a bit like a marathon where the goal was to finish in record time. For others, a lifelong dream of religious pilgrimage fulfilled.
I came to realize that for me, the joy was in the journey, not the destination. It was stopping at a café along the path to buy a Coke-Zero-Zero (who knew?) with giant ice cubes. It was seeing the horses, goats, and backyard chickens. It was in the smile of a woman I had met two days prior when she exclaimed, “Mira (look), it’s our American friend!” It was the sound of the waves behind the small chapel where I stopped for water. It was getting chills while listening to Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now on Audible while walking through a forest of fragrant eucalyptus. It was the spectacle of the high-flying, incense burning censer at the Pilgrim’s Mass in the Cathedral of Santiago. It was the final day of my journey walking alone for more than 20 miles, in a steady rain, wet shoes squishing with every step. It was listening to a premade playlist on Spotify. And it was listening, in silence, to the voice within.
The joy was the shared experience and community with fellow pilgrims. Regardless of the reason for our journey, our common destination bound us together in a spirit of generosity and camaraderie.
When I think about you, our SilverPeak clients, I am humbled that you allow us to play a small part in your journey. Our common goal is to help you to live your best life in pursuit of whatever that means to you.
Buen Camino!