I had hoped to avoid it, but today was the day when not everything went according to plan. I stayed last night at a hotel in Sarria, by the train tracks (very nice) and the lady who checked me in told me that I didn’t have to go all the way back to where I turned off to get to the hotel, I could take “the shortcut” and be right back on the trail without having to go through town … sounded easy enough.

This morning I had the map she marked for me, and off I went. Got to the point the map said I should be and started up the highway. According to my own maps, I should have walked about a kilometer or so, then intersected with the trail. Didn’t happen. I ended up walking about five miles (easy miles to be sure) on the highway. I wasn’t overly concerned because the highway was the road to Portomarin, which is where I was heading anyway. Worst case, I walk the highway for 23km and get here an hour or so later than planned. I knew I wasn’t on the path because there were no pilgrims around, ahead, or behind. And that was when I spent some time reflecting on how connected we really are to each other. I don’t spend a great deal of time talking to other pilgrims, but have noticed that I like having them around. Even without speaking to each other, we’re a constant support system for each other.  I have always considered myself perfectly comfortable being alone, but now I’m starting to see how truly connected I am to others.

Eventually I came to the place where the Camino crossed the highway, turned right and “away, we go” (Ralph Cramden aka Jackie Gleason). Once I was on the path again, and had the first of two stamps needed everyday from here on, I relaxed and started thinking about all the ways I “coach” myself through my days. I thought about all the little lies I tell myself to get through the day, and wouldn’t it be nice if I just lived my life in such a way that I didn’t have to trick myself through it. Of course with all the things we have to get done in our lives, I’m not sure that’s possible. We’re so perpetually over scheduled, that we’d never get it all done, if we didn’t coach ourselves. But what do you think your life would look like if you were doing work that you really enjoyed doing? If you were the kind of parent that you really wanted to be? The kind of student you know you should be, and are capable of being? How would we begin to impact each other’s lives?  Seemed to me on the trail today, that if I had spent the energy in my life doing things the way I knew they should be done instead of trying to avoid doing them, I might have ended up a lot further ahead.

What do you spend time trying to avoid, that you know at the end of the day, you’re going to do anyway?  Just do it. You might find your life a little less exhausting and you a little less exhausted.

Need to give a great big old ruby red raspberry (pheeewwwww) to my buddy Rosie J. She told me before I left, “you know you’re going to spend most of your time on pavement”. Uhn-uh. Actually been mostly path through the countryside. I think some tour guides use the roads more but I seem to have one that prefers to stay off-road. You have to know that I don’t often catch Rosie being wrong about anything, so this is particularly sweet. I also learned last night, that a lot of what I thought was old bedrock, is in fact some of the ancient Roman roads used to travel on, back in the day.  Very cool.

Want to give a shout out to Micky, and all the folks walking ten minutes a day for fifteen days. I’m thinking about you, and very grateful for your energy.

Saint Patti Lee writes: “I’m a Hospice Care Coordinator. I work with patients in the hospital who have been referred for Hospice care. This involves meeting with the patient/family and planning for their care, usually resulting in discharge to their home with the necessary medical equipment and medications, or, arranging for a short transitional stay at the Hospice Inpatient Unit. I’ve worked for St. Elizabeth for 35 years, and in Hospice for 32 (which is why I called her saint Patti Lee). I was attracted to Hospice because of the help and support provided to terminally ill individuals and their families. When I was a teenager, I watched my mother struggle as an only child caring for her mother who was dying of brain cancer. I know she would have greatly benefitted from the help Hospice gives”.

Today is Sunday, so I’ll close with something different. This is from the Tao te Ching, translation by Stephen Mitchell.

Chapter 8

The supreme good is like water,

which nourishes all things without trying to.

It is content with the low places that people disdain.

Thus it is like the Tao.

In dwelling, live close to the ground.

In thinking, keep to the simple.

In conflict, be fair and generous.

In governing, don’t try to control.

In work do what you enjoy.

In family life, be completely present.

When you are content to be simply yourself

and don’t compare or compete,

everybody will respect you.

Buen Camino