Risk

So, my journey is complete. One of the common questions from those I talked to about my up coming pilgrimage was “Aren’t you afraid?”

When I was asked if I was afraid, I said no.
Not because I knew exactly what would happen on the Camino, but because something inside me understood that not walking through the fear can sometimes be the greater risk.

The Camino is not easy—I don’t recommend it to everyone—- a walk across Portugal and Spain…..it is a decision to trust yourself enough to accept the unknown.

The Camino Risk:

• Leaving behind a safe routine 
• Walking through pain, exhaustion, and doubt
• Depending on strangers
• Letting go of control
• Discovering truths about yourself you can no longer ignore

But, there is also risk in giving into fear never going.

Risk in postponing dreams until “someday.”
Risk in allowing fear to shrink your world.
Risk in reaching the later chapters of life and wondering what might have happened if you had simply done the thing that was outside of your comfort zone.

The Camino teaches you that you do not need to have all of the answers, you just need to trust yourself and be willingly move forward.

Every morning becomes another day to embrace yourself for who you are and trust yourself—it is an act of faith.
You put on your socks and shoes, shoulder up your pack, and trust that the next yellow arrow will appear when you need it…..and what you will find—it always does. Things will come as they should.

One step becomes two, then three, then 33,000+.
One difficult climb gives you the confidence to make it through the next….and then the next.

So when people ask if I am afraid, my answer:

I was more afraid of never experiencing it.
More afraid of ignoring the inner voice that kept moving me toward the Camino.
More afraid of staying comfortable than discovering what waited for me during this phase of my life.

The Camino is teaching me that life was never meant to be watched from a distance.

So, my question to you: What are you afraid of? What is your Camino?