The Camino de Santiago: Walking Life’s Path at My Own Pace
The protagonist in Paulo Coelho’s book, which I read in college, sets out on the Camino de Santiago, and this left me with a vague but strong desire to someday walk the Camino myself. Amid the busy college life, part-time jobs, and later a full-time career, that dream was put on hold. However, after leaving my job, I finally made the decision to walk the Camino. I barely managed to cover the cost of my flight by making and selling ceramic accessories overnight. I planned to cover the rest of the expenses by selling more ceramics during the pilgrimage. And so, I set off on my first Camino de Santiago.
Due to my focus on raising funds, I hadn’t adequately prepared physically, which led to tremendous physical pain. However, I set aside my anxieties and worries about the future and focused solely on the simplicity of walking, finding great joy in it. Despite financial and time constraints, I have since walked the Camino de Santiago nine times. It has become an inseparable companion in my life.
The Camino is marked by yellow arrows that guide the way. As long as you follow them, you won't get lost. If only life had such arrows, guiding us on the right path. Unfortunately, life doesn’t come with these arrows. Instead, we have our own goals and dreams, and we can follow these as our guiding "arrows."
During the pilgrimage, my body signals that it needs a break. If there’s a café nearby, I’ll stop and rest. If not, I sit on the ground and eat the food I brought with me. On the Camino, I set my own pace and decide how far to walk each day. Life is the same. There’s no need to ignore signals that you need rest, nor is there any need to feel anxious or sad if someone else is walking faster than you. You just have to walk your own path at your own pace. In this way, the Camino de Santiago closely mirrors the journey of life.
Walking the Camino, I’ve been able to experience, in a condensed way, the joys, sharing, and sorrows that we learn over decades in life. Through the pilgrimage, I have come to realize a life value that cannot be measured by anything
else.
