Life Gave Me Lemons, so I’m Walking the Camino de Santiago

I’ve always been good at goal-setting. I pick a goal, stick to it, and accomplish it – always in that order. If I don’t set a goal for myself, then it’s likely that I’ll just end up drinking too much wine and floating around aimlessly until I find something new to obsess about.

Lucky for me, I have a new goal.

I’m going on a pilgrimage.

The Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago is an ancient pilgrimage that ends in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. There are countless routes, including the Camino Frances, Via de la Plata, Camino Portugues, and the Camino Primitivo, but I’ve chosen to hike the Camino del Norte – the 512-mile northernmost Camino that borders the Bay of Biscay. It’s widely regarded as a Christian pilgrimage, although there’s evidence that the Camino route was used as early as the 8^th century.

According to Christianity, one of the original 12 apostles – Saint James (or Santiago) – is said to have been buried just west of Santiago de Compostela. His relics were then placed in a specially-built chapel by King Alfonso II, which has now become the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.

I’ve never considered myself a Christian. I wouldn’t say I’ve ever considered myself much of anything, for that matter, except for someone who hopes to be as good and kind as one can be. I’m drawn to the Camino not by the religious aspects, but by the people that walk it. Everyone has a story to tell.

The Camino Norte – (Includes San Sebastian, Bilbao, Santander, and Gijon)

If you haven’t watched Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” episode featuring San Sebastián, I request that you immediately stop reading, pull up Netflix and go watch it. Everything I know about San Sebastián I learned from Tony, and that was enough to tell me that I should take the Camino del Norte so I can explore Basque Country, rather than the more popular and centrally-located Camino Frances. The land is green and the seafood is fresh. Sign me up.

A Working Pilgrimage

Unlike most people on the Camino, I won’t be taking a vacation or quitting my job to complete the pilgrimage. None of this would be possible without my marketing clients. I’ll continue to clock regular hours in irregular places, taking my time to make my way to Santiago de Compostela. Hell – I might even do some apartment hunting along the way. If my calculations are correct, I’ll finish in around a month and ½ – give or take a few weeks. I’m starting in late September.

After I finish? I have no clue, but I’m hoping that by the end of the ordeal I’ll have found a little clarity and guidance. The most beautiful thing about life is the potential that rests in the unknown. I still can’t answer the quintessential question, “What are you doing with your life?” but I know exactly what I’m going to do for now.