The 66 things I learnt from walking the Camino Frances

This is how I would summarise my experience on the Camino Frances.

It would be untrue if I told you that I gained all of these insights on the Camino alone. I have to thank a lot of great teachers – near and far. However, many of these insights were confirmed on this journey. Whether you need to walk the Camino to get some valuable insights into your life or not, I do not know. I am sure you can get these insights in other places as well. However, the environment that the Camino provides and just a long walk in general can be certainly conducive and after all – it is also a lot of fun 🙂

1. Pack wisely. Less is more
2. If you can, invest in high quality products – this will save you some trouble
3. If you cannot: that is OK – you will survive –> check point 4
4. Time is the solution to many of your challenges. The more time you have for your Camino, the better
5. If you seek solitude you might want to consider walking another route
6. Take good earplugs. They can save lives
7. Sometimes you need a good exit strategy
8. ‘Magic’ will happen when you pause and let it happen (without waiting for it to happen)
9. When you face your fears you might find out that reality is often less scary than your imagination has pictured it
10. By separating yourself a little from what is happening around you, life might offer a different perspective to you
11. If you like to be around other people and socialise the Camino Frances might be a good option
12. Being part of a community is nice- as long as you can choose whether you want to be part of it
13. Your body remembers what you did to it – and will take a long walk as an opportunity to remind you
14. Even though it feels you are kind of alone on this planet, you are a part of it
15. Most people will try to support you, if you are in need and ask for help (if it is a short-term commitment)
16. Beware of the upper bunk bed – accidents do occur and sometimes you are moving in line with the person on the lower bunk, however
17. if the bed collapses you will probably be better off on the upper bunk
18. Nothing is just good or bad
19. Overcome your fear of ‘performing surgery on yourself’. If you can, avoid doing a messy job, in order to avoid infections. If you cannot: practise 😉
20. Most (if not all) worst-case scenarios (best-case scenarios – ALL scenarios?) your mind creates are not real
21. walking on concrete = pain
22. Not much materialistic stuff is needed to keep a person satisfied
23. Being unwilling to accept change will cause (unnecessary?) suffering. (it is however necessary: life will keep on kicking you in the bottom until you do accept what you need to accept)
24. When you accept change life can flow and new opportunities can arise
25. A glass of good wine can bring happiness
26. A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved
27. Worrying doesn’t solve problems
28. The more time you spend alone the more time you have to worry (if you are not a meditation master), however:
29. If you never spend anytime alone you will never be in touch with yourself and understand the concept you call “I”
30. A solution to a challenge you are facing is more likely to present itself if you stop worrying and do something else instead
31. In moments of complete awareness if feels like you become one with everything around you
32. You can finally eat as much as you like and still lose weight
33. Age is (to a certain degree) just a number. Don’t let this number limit you
34. Dance when you feel like dancing
35. What you resist persists
36. Depending on circumstances getting up at 6am can be wonderful
37. If you want to experience a more homely feeling, try out the smaller places (villages, albergues)
38. Even people who seem to live the life you want to live face challenges
39. April can be hot in Spain.
40. April can also be cold in Spain.
41. If you get lost, enjoy the view, stay calm, be patient. Freaking out does not really improve a situation
42. We are all in the same boat – we just hold different positions, at different times
43. Sometimes letting go of plan A and try out plan B or C or M can lead to wonderful outcomes
44. Stay flexible in your approach 
45. Without experiencing pain or suffering would we know joy or pleasure?
46. Comparing yourself to others is nonsense. It is impossible to know the whole picture anyway
47. Walk on your own if you want to consciously observe what is happening around you, walk your own pace, process information and experience being a part of everything around you
48. Walk with others if you want to exchange information, hear different perspectives, bond, support/be supported for a little while or just share an experience (like drinking a bottle of wine 🙂 )
49. Both experiences can be valuable – depending on what you want and need in that moment
50. Don’t force a swollen foot into a compression sock and then walk for 20km
51. Just because you think it cannot be done or others tell you it cannot be done – does not mean it cannot be done
52. Always question things – including your own concepts
53. If you want to look good you might have to pay a price for that
54. Be less critical – focus more on the positive – and pay compliments – if that’s how you feel.
55. Be critical, if it is needed – can you still be kind? Question your motivation
56. Every action has its consequences – sometimes the consequences come unexpected
57. Celebrate your victories – celebrate the victories of others. Celebrate together.
58. The reason that makes you happy in one moment can be the very same that makes you extremely unhappy in the next moment
59. Dont underestimate a long walk – then again don’t worry too much about it either
60. Your perception will create your reality
61. Listen to your body
62. Ask for support, if you are in need.
63. Give support if others are in need
64. We bond with people with whom we believe we have something in common that is of importance to us
65. Sometimes unhealthy food is healthier than healthy food
66. Maybe there is always an exception to the rule

This list is obviously very subjective and limited to my own experience. It is certainly not a comprehensive list – because depending on my own experience and my perspective on life my views are always subject to change.  However, it is more or less true for how I saw  the world and my Camino that moment when I created this list.

That all being said there remains only one more thing to be said:

Buen Camino to all of you 🙂

– no matter whether you walk an actual trek or whether you just walk on your life’s path.

“When someone seeks,” said Siddhartha, “then it easily happens that his eyes see only the thing that he seeks, and he is able to find nothing, to take in nothing because he always thinks only about the thing he is seeking, because he has one goal, because he is obsessed with his goal. Seeking means: having a goal. But finding means: being free, being open, having no goal.”
― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha