In the six months since I boarded my flight home from Spain to the United States, my mind has swirled with reflections on my experience walking the Camino de Santiago. Initially, I wondered if the 500-mile, 33-day pilgrimage would prompt a significant epiphany or inspire a major life change when I returned to my life in Los Angeles, California.

Would I lace up my shoes and go for a long walk every morning? Would I maintain connections with fellow pilgrims I met along the way? Or would I return to my routine and pretend it had never happened?

Since returning, I’ve found answers to these questions and gained deeper insights into the lessons this journey has imparted, not just for me but also for numerous others who have traversed the Camino de Santiago.

What is the Camino de Santiago?

The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, comprises a network of pilgrimage routes leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela located in Galicia, Spain.

This historic pilgrimage, which dates back to the Middle Ages, attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the world annually. Traditionally undertaken for religious reasons, modern pilgrims also walk the Camino for spiritual growth, adventure, and cultural exploration. The routes vary in length and difficulty, with the most popular being the Camino Francés, which commences in St. Jean Pied de Port in France and spans approximately 500 miles (800 kilometers).

Time Moves Slower When You’re Walking

When you walk the Camino, you can cover distances from five to twenty miles per day, which takes anywhere from five to eight hours. This experience starkly contrasts the convenience of driving or flying in everyday life.

As I walked, I noticed the pace at which I traveled. The effect of this slower movement gave me a sense of having more time on my hands.

I began to appreciate the passage of time differently. I observed how the sun set at various times, how the weather shifted, and how flowers bloomed throughout my journey.

I realized that nothing ever remains static. My daily routines continued to repeat, yet the world around me evolved, even amidst seemingly mundane moments.

You’ll Never Look at Your Feet the Same Way Again

During the Camino, my feet endured considerable strain. It wasn’t merely blisters that became an issue; rather, it was the impact of walking on hard surfaces, especially on descents.

I witnessed my feet swell in ways I had never experienced, my toes bled from blisters that threatened infection, and ultimately, I saw them heal.

I invested hours worrying, talking, and yes—complaining about my feet. It was during this journey that I learned the importance of caring for them.

I frequently applied Vaseline to my toes and heels, discovering the ideal fabric to keep my feet cool and dry in high temperatures (wool is the preferred option!).

I bandaged my feet, prayed for them, and expressed gratitude as they grew stronger.

While your feet can take you many places, they can only do so if you take the necessary steps to care for them along the way.

Community and Connection

Five days into walking, I found myself in my Airbnb host’s sweltering kitchen, drenched in sweat. My toes were riddled with blisters, and my host offered to treat them for me. Anxiety filled me at the prospect.

I had never faced blisters much in my life. I lacked knowledge on how to care for them properly, treat them, or prevent infection. This was particularly concerning as I aimed to keep moving forward.

My host, who had been a nurse in her home country, communicated with me using a translation app on her phone, breaking language barriers one phrase at a time.

It felt disorienting. Would this end poorly?

After what seemed like an eternity of communication through the app, she addressed my blisters. Surprisingly, it hurt far less than I had anticipated.

Having just met, she was caring for me at my most vulnerable moment, which fostered a profound sense of humility.

Walking the Camino teaches that we are all in this together.

The Camino Provides

It extends beyond foot care. Sharing meals, remedies, language, and simply enjoying the company of others creates a robust network of care. Along the Camino, help is not just available; it is freely given.

People are eager to support one another, demonstrating that even when you’re walking solo, you’re never truly alone.

This spirit of camaraderie and support is what renders the Camino a unique and special experience. Whether you’re a seasoned pilgrim or a newcomer, you will find someone willing to lend a hand or share a comforting word.

As you traverse the trail, you will meet individuals from diverse backgrounds, each bearing their own narratives. Some seek spiritual enlightenment, while others are simply in search of a new adventure.

Regardless of what draws you to the Camino, a shared bond of kindness and compassion unites us all.

We All Walk the Same Camino

Reflecting on my time on the Camino, I recall days when I walked slower than many pilgrims, including those decades older than me. However, as I neared the final stretch toward Santiago, I found my rhythm, grew stronger, and walked much faster than before.

Of course, some continued to outpace me—or covered twice the distance I did in one day—but eventually, after weeks of walking, the first eight miles of each day felt manageable, whereas they had once seemed daunting.

This experience imparted the lesson that life is not a race. We all progress at our own speed, and comparing our journeys to others offers no value. Like life, the Camino is a personal journey for each individual.

Learning to harmonize with others instead of competing has brought me peace and allowed me to embrace my current stage of life with greater acceptance. It has also enabled me to celebrate my milestones without measuring them against the accomplishments of others.

The essential takeaway is that we are all linked by one shared goal — to reach Santiago.

Achieving a Goal Takes Time

I’ll confess; I am a perfectionist. When I face setbacks, I tend to falter significantly. This often dismays me to the point of reluctance to try again.

Walking the Camino illuminated the fact that achieving goals hinges on countless milestones along the way.

Each day, I moved closer to my objective of reaching Santiago de Compostela. I didn’t quit when challenges arose. I didn’t surrender when obstacles felt insurmountable.

Indeed, I allowed myself rest when necessary. I took the bus on days when I fell ill, and my feet could no longer endure the pain.

Yet, this wasn’t failure.

The journey ingrained the idea that perfection ought not to be the goal; rather, progress is the goal.

Each step propelled me onward. Significant objectives are achieved through small victories.

True strength does not lie in how far you can walk in a day but in your persistence and adaptability, regardless of distance.

You Learn to Listen to Your Body

I did take the bus when absolutely necessary. I didn’t walk every last mile of the Camino Francés, and that disappointed me initially. Yet, I now recognize that knowing one’s physical limits is a sign of true strength.

Understanding when to push boundaries and when to pause offers a form of wisdom.

During the Camino, I learned to attune myself to what my body was communicating. The brief stretches of silence while walking alone provided me an opportunity to reflect on my thoughts more carefully.

Balancing ambition with self-care remains a challenge. In daily life, it is all too easy to overlook our limitations while attempting to meet personal or external expectations. On the Camino, I came to value self-awareness and the courage it requires to honor one’s needs.

Grief Happens Whenever Anyone Leaves Us

On the Camino, it’s not uncommon to find yourself walking with the same group of individuals, affectionately termed your “Camino family.” While some may journey the entire distance with the same group, others will inevitably separate for various reasons.

As I walked, I found myself mingling with different groups, easily connecting with individuals I had just met. However, when the Camino split into two paths, and my friends chose another route, I faced the bittersweet reality of saying goodbye. Parting with these newly formed connections felt akin to experiencing a minor heartbreak.

I pondered if our paths would ever intersect again. For me, it mirrored the grief associated with losing someone dear. These fleeting connections on the Camino served as stark reminders of how quickly bonds can form and how painfully they can dissolve, echoing life’s inevitable cycle of relationships.

However, this separation also served to underline the importance of living in the present moment. I learned to cherish the time spent with those around me. Grief is a natural component of the human experience.

Ultimately, I learned to treasure moments of connection, even if transient, while coming to terms with the inevitability of change and loss.

Embracing the Journey Ahead

Reflecting on the month I spent walking the Camino de Santiago, the motivations behind my journey have become increasingly clear.

It’s akin to glancing over your shoulder while hiking. When immersed in the mountains, it’s easy to focus solely on the rocks and dirt. Yet, after miles of walking, the full grandeur of the mountains becomes perceptible.

At the time, I couldn’t fully comprehend the lasting impact it would have on my life. Now, in hindsight, I can appreciate the significance of the lessons I gained.

Distance provides the perspective necessary to understand the enormity of what one has experienced.

And thus, the journey progresses, one step at a time.