Final camino entry: Lessons from the Camino, Part 2

After walking 255 miles, I came up with several methaphors related to the camino. Some of them are quite cheesy, but nonetheless, I find them amusing. (Plus, you should all be well aware of how terrible my jokes and "witty" quips are!)

Advice for--and from--the Camino de Santiago (to be taken literally regarding the Camino and metaphorically when applying to "life"):

* Watch out for the piles of crap in the middle of the path that the ass before you left behind as he or she walked forward. Try to step around them if you can...but if you do have the misfortune of ending up in the middle of it, do your best to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all, shake it off your boot, and keep going. Lastly, try your best not to laugh at the misfortune of others when they end up in a "shitty" situation. 
   
* Do your best to be kind to those who join the journey a bit late or approach the trip differently than you (like taking the easier route on the bus, for example...) You will get out what you put in, just like the others. Everyone has their own version of the camino. 

* Keep something sturdy by your side to pull you uphill during the rough patches when you are really fatigued. Let people say what they want about your poles--they help! 

* The uphill battle is hard work, but the view from the top is usually worth it. Make sure to take time to savor the fruits of your labors: what goes up must come down...and the descent is usually more painful and more dangerous. The sturdy poles by your side come in handy here, too.

* Sometimes the perfection is not in the finale at the end of the road, but rather in the journey itself. Don't expect an ephiphany at the end of the camino--that puts unnecessary pressure on the process to produce a specific outcome. Roll with it and savor each moment; you'll be less likely to end up disappointed. Although, if you're patient, maybe things will end up just the way you'd been hoping they would all along...

Sad that it's over, but so thankful to have had the opportunity to experience it. Perhaps I'll be back to try my hand at another one of the camino routes in the future...

Wishing each of you serenity on your own "camino" :)

Abrazos,
Kelsey