LIVE from the Camino Going Home

[Sayumm19]

I finished camino last week and just arrived home in the US... It's so strange. Some moments I feel like I never went to Spain, that it was all a dream. And then the next minute, I'm freaking out because I can't cope with being back.
After being home 1 day, people say they see a change in me, but i can also feel my old bad habits creeping up.
Paying bills, going to work, even cooking dinner feels monotonous and has no meaning.
What now?

 

[Tincatinker]

Deep breaths pilgrim, deep breaths. The world you have come home to hasn't been on Camino. It will only have changed a little. You will probably have changed a lot. So look at the place you have come home to through a pilgrim's eyes. See it as somewhere new, somewhere to experience new things in new ways. Don't have too many expectations but look for the different, the new, the better.

And in the meantime start planning your next Camino

 

[tyrrek]

If you have too much 'stuff' in the house, now is a good time to review what you really need....

 

[Al the optimist]

Just had an unseasonal spring clean week resulting in 2 trips to the tip and one to the charity shop. I even have an empty draw in the chest in my bedroom! I blame the Camino that finished in June. This seems to happen a lot between walks and I dread to think what will happen again after I get back again in September! I do hope I still keep the bed!

 

[amorfati1]

you might find this thread helpful as well
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/comm...eir-return-from-the-camino.27747/#post-226081

best wishes - claudia

 

[pilgrim b]

Just had an unseasonal spring clean week resulting in 2 trips to the tip and one to the charity shop. I even have an empty draw in the chest in my bedroom! I blame the Camino that finished in June. This seems to happen a lot between walks and I dread to think what will happen again after I get back again in September! I do hope I still keep the bed!

Just a thought al, if you don't keep the bed you can always sleep walk in October

 

[Arn]

Before I departed on my first Camino...I was up to my eyeballs in "stuff". Stuff that I agreed to do, because another didn't step forward. Stuff that had accumulated in a very broken relationship...I was determined to fix. Stuff I hadn't seen or used in more than one year. And, stuff I put in my own way that would preclude walking the Way again.
I figured that much of what I agreed to do...was during my FREE Time. So, I looked over the "stuff" and found others had picked them up in my absence. I congratulated them on their fine work and moved on planning my next Camino during my free time. The relationship was dragging me down, forcing a wedge between me and my family. So, I sat down, found more negatives than positives and realized you can't help someone that can't help themselves. Aside from a picture of me when I broke my arm, most of the stuff I had accumulated was just so much stuff. I picked up an item...put it in the trash, another item...into the trash. Pretty soon...the only stuff I retained was the "Camino stuff" I needed for my second Camino. Oh, btw, when I said "into the trash" I meant given to a consignment shop, a thrift store or put on Craig's List. The result: I paid for nearly all my Camino with the cash or tax breaks received.

My point is: If you go on Camino looking for something...you just may find it. If you return home and go back to the same old, same old looking for a change in others...you may forget the change in you and become disappointed.

 

[norelle]

Just had an unseasonal spring clean week resulting in 2 trips to the tip and one to the charity shop. I even have an empty draw in the chest in my bedroom! I blame the Camino that finished in June. This seems to happen a lot between walks and I dread to think what will happen again after I get back again in September! I do hope I still keep the bed!

Al,
you will know you're in trouble when you install a set of bunk beds!
buen camino

 

[Olivares]

What now?

What now? OBVIOUSLY, planning the next one!! . I noticed you went Sarria- Finisterre. OMG! You need to get back to the BEST parts of the Camino Frances! This is such a no brainer-- start planning the return starting at SJPDP to (say) Logrono. If not the French Way , there are at least 15 different routes denominated Camino de Santiago. Research them and pick the next one, start planning.

The only time I experienced a deep withdrawal from the Camino was the first time. Easily taken care of when I started planning the return. After 5 times, I am on planning the next: Sept-Oct 2015.

 

[Al the optimist]

Al,
you will know you're in trouble when you install a set of bunk beds!
buen camino

LOL