Why the Camino de Santiago?

I asked my friend Jill back in November if she wanted to go to a movie with me because I had movie passes that were about to expire. She gave me a couple of choices of what movies she wanted to see and from that I picked a movie called The Way. It's the story of a father who is moved to walk the camino to spread along the way the ashes of his newly-deceased son.  It’s a story of life and what it's about, about humanity and it's wonderful simplicity behind the complexity. Little did I know it, but that movie started a change in my life.

The next morning, on the bus to work, I knew – absolutely knew– that someday, someday!, I too was going to walk the Camino. I didn’t know when, but I would.

For some months, even years, I have felt a profound sense of dissatisfaction with the way I was living my life. I am not unhappy with the people in my life – I have a loving and wonderful partner, and am blessed with family and some really great friends.  But I have been troubled with my way of doing life...I felt I've been drifting along, living without much consideration. I have always been a person who wants to grow and learn new things but somehow, I didn’t feel like I was doing that anymore. 

So then I saw this movie and that inspired me to actively change that reality. Slowly the plan to walk the Camino was formed and built, little but little each day. 

Within five weeks I had bought my plane tickets. 

Still, I mulled over the idea over the winter, trying it on and considering it from every angle. It felt like a good fit every way I looked at it but one. How was I going to get that much time off work? 

When I saw The Way, I was immediately attracted to the idea. But why? I didn't know why but I felt like I needed to create an opportunity to invite significant change into my life. So I have resigned from the job which was no longer gave me any satisfaction and I am taking to the road. Some may think it rash, but it was, in fact, a long and carefully deliberated thought process that got me to that point.

I leave next week for the Camino. I will be gone for seven weeks and I am in the driver’s seat of my life again.