My mind always seems to be restless and over active. It wanders constantly, jumping from one thought to another. Meditation is impossible. It often feels impossible to quiet. Instead of being fully present, my thoughts go to past memories or toward worries, plans, and endless “what ifs.”
A restless mind is exhausting.
On the Camino, I am beginning to realize how much of life can be (and has been) missed. A beautiful trail, the sound of birds in the trees, the smell of rain on the earth, a rainbow during an afternoon shower—small moments that deserve attention—moments that can not be recaptured. Those moments disappear when my mind is busy somewhere else.
This journey is teaching me something important: peace is not always found in the surrounding silence, it is found as I quiet the noise in my head.
Some days are better than others. I still catch myself overthinking everything—how far is left to walk, how badly my feet hurt, I’m hungry, can I do this, what if I fail, what comes next when I get home. And then, there are moments when the noise fades. I notice the ocean, the wind, the whale, the sound of roosters in the morning. A smile from another pilgrim as we head toward the same destination.
The challenge for me….to exist in the moment and appreciate its beauty. Moments are all we have.
Maybe that is what the Camino provides….it isn’t the destination—-it is learning how to be present for our own lives while walking through them one step at a time
One Response
This is a beautiful post ❤️