Walk This Way

We are all travelers in the wilderness of the world, and the best that we can find in our travels is an honest friend. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson


Juli: I am going to write a book and call it “Waking Up Crazy”
Stacy: Is it going to be about you in the morning?

After 5 weeks of walking together, we have become a comedy routine. We laugh uproariously about our unparralled wit, but we have noticed most others do not understand our humor. Perhaps you had to be there…every step of the way. Walking makes you a little crazy. In a good way.  Walking teaches you that trying to be like everyone else is crazy.

It is tempting when you walk to match your pace to those around you, whether fast or slow, short or long strides. Quickly (hopefully) you discover that if you try to walk in some one else’s style (or steps) leads to injury. Blisters, shin splints and other assorted hazards of walking are minimized by listening to your own body; walking your own path, in your own way.

Stacy was surprised to learn that she is a very determined, very goal oriented walker. She set her sights on the village that was our goal for the day and she walked, often without stopping, until she reached our destination. I was surprised to find that though my life dictated living like this (appointments, classes, practices that all had to be managed and traveled to on time) my inner voice dictates more of a meandering style of walking. I still arrived each day at our destination, but often an hour or more after Stacy. I stopped and looked at bugs, gazed at the sky, and laid in the grass (or dirt) and breathed in the day. (Unless it was raining, then I walked like Stacy).  While Stacy is a straight arrow aimed right at the target, I am on a zig-zag course, still aimed at the target, but more likely to be distracted by several things before reaching my goal. Neither way is right or wrong. Just different.

We met some pilgrims who had a strong opinion about the ‘correct way’ to walk, but most agree, that it is important to listen to your own voice, your own body, and walk in your own way.  If you listen the camino can teach you to live your life in your own way as well. I hope we listened carefully.

Epilogue:
While walking across Spain Juli’s house in Calgary sold. She is now a nomad. She is currently working on a book called “Walking In Zig-Zags’.

Stacy returns to Calgary where she has many projects on the go. She is also in the midst of setting up her own Hairstyling Business. She continues to walk in style.

Stacy + Juli
Fisterre, Spain
October 25, 2012