Nervous!

[nonieconnor]

I'm leaving the US in a week. . .hard to believe! I've been reading the forum all year, and picked up lots of great tips--what to pack, what to wear, socks and liners, and best of all Bag Balm, to grease up the feet and prevent blisters. Thanks everybody!

I've been wondering all along why people seem anxious before they depart and now I know! Will I make it? Can I do it? Am I taking too much/too little? What about weather? rain? mud? Will I make friends? Above all, why am I doing this??? Not at all sure, but there must be something there that motivated me to train for seven months, read everything I can get my hands on, fill my thoughts for hours a day.

Thanks to all who offer so much advice and encouragement. The best advice I've heard is to "let it go." I'm not a let-it-go kind of person--if the Camino teaches me how to do that better it will be well worth it!

 

[wayfarer]

Go with the flow and enjoy the experience.
Buen Camino.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi nonieconnor,

Your post struck a chord. Brought me back to the time leading up to my first camino. There's nothng like it and you're now in that anxiety/anticipation/doubting/craziness stage that will fall away when you take your first step. If you're like me, you'll be pinching yourself every so often to make sure it's really finally happening and isn't just another dream. The camino is a great opportunity to be truly thankful for life, and I hope it brings that thanksgiving to you.

With so many newbies setting out in the near future, it's hard to wish each and every one an individual buen camino, but know that there are lots of us "serial pilgrims" watching and wishing all of you a buen camino. Looking forward to your reports back as you go from "newbie" to "experienced" -- hearing from people on the road is one of the best parts of this forum.

Buen camino, Laurie

p.s. And don't think that the pre-camino jitters go away after your first camino. I've been walking every year since 2000 and I still have a lot of the feelings and doubts you describe. It's just another one of the realities that equalizes all of us on the camino!

 

[skilsaw]

As you suspect,
Nervousness is natural.

Launch into the great unknown.
Sometimes hard, sometimes soft,
In the end, very kind to me.

I hope you find it so.

David, Victoria, Canada.

 

[David]

"I've been wondering all along why people seem anxious before they depart and now I know! Will I make it? Can I do it? Am I taking too much/too little? What about weather? rain? mud? Will I make friends? Above all, why am I doing this??? "

Perfect!!! That exactly sums it up - proves that you are in the groove, on track, etc

Buen Camino!!!