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Once you hit that vague "certain age" (I'm 62) and hear about people your age having heart attacks, strokes or limitations placed on them because of their health, a concern for your future arises and it is natural that you want to put as much into your life as you can. It is certainly an impetus for my annual long-distance walk be it a pilgrimage or any other route.Being a bit of a control freak this is very frustrating as I cannot plan ahead but have to do this before my vision gets worse.
I am feeling a bit sorry for myself but know that I have to battle to save my vision. My advise is to walk the camino, don't wait - you don't know what will happen in the future.
Once you hit that vague "certain age" (I'm 62) and hear about people your age having heart attacks, strokes or limitations placed on them because of their health, a concern for your future arises and it is natural that you want to put as much into your life as you can. It is certainly an impetus for my annual long-distance walk be it a pilgrimage or any other route.
However, except in the case of procrastination (if that's the problem, just get out there and do it!), I don't ascribe to the idea of not delaying your Camino. The Camino happens (or doesn't happen) when it is the right time for you. When things are put in our way, it is a time for lesson-learning - acceptance, strength of spirit and letting go of the need to be in control (ie planning ahead). There are quite likely many more lessons involved, these are simply the ones that come to me because they are what I still need to work on.
Gailsie, you have many friends on the Forum who are sending you their love and their prayers to help you face the huge battle you have ahead of you. The Camino will wait for you. It may be that you will need to change the manner in which you go but trust that, if the pull is strong enough, you will know how to approach it when the time comes.
Mid July will not be warm. It will be VERY HOT!I am watching daily for anyone who has or will walk mid July and have not seen one post....will I be alone for a whole month....?... Or has a bad month chosen me.....just couldn't get that close to Pamplona and not include running of the bulls...also liked the idea of something wild in all the peace....both good food for my spirit....has anyone walked mid July to mid august? I know it will be warm but like that.
Just b
This was my exact thought when deciding to go in April. I've felt the pull for a couple of years, but always thought I couldn't do it because of different physical problems. Suddenly, about 4 weeks ago, I realized that if I don't try to do it now, I might never be able to go. So, I'll try and see how far it gets meMy advise is to walk the camino, don't wait - you don't know what will happen in the future.
Happy Birthday, Stephen!I'm allowed a personal opinion, as today is my birthday
Oh Gailsie!I walked sections of the Camino Francis (about 600 km) in the fall of 2009. I was so exhausted and sore at the end that I could not contemplate walking again. But the camino was calling me back and I decided to walk Porto to SdC for my 65th birthday. Now I having problems with my macular degeneration and am wondering when I will be able to get to walk, sometime inbetween eye specialist appointments. Being a bit of a control freak this is very frustrating as I cannot plan ahead but have to do this before my vision gets worse. I am feeling a bit sorry for myself but know that I have to battle to save my vision. My advise is to walk the camino, don't wait - you don't know what will happen in the future.
Brendaparrish,.....just couldn't get that close to Pamplona and not include running of the bulls...also liked the idea of something wild in all the peace....both good food for my spirit....has anyone walked mid July to mid august? I know it will be warm but like that.
Just b
Brendaparrish,
It will be VERY busy in Pamplona during the running of the bulls!
Check out this Forum thread from last year regarding that time as well as this official San Fermin site.
Buen Camino,
Margaret Meredith
"The future is not some place we are going, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made. And the activity of making them changes both the maker and their destination."
Lynnejohn, I actually agree with this statement. The future is something we create by the choices we make in the present. However, I put the Camino in a different category from most (all?) other things I've done in my life. Everything else was a thought-out rational decision. Going on pilgrimage was a compulsion and I honestly had no idea why I felt the need to go. It was an enlightening experience and I will be eternally grateful for everything the Camino taught me and continues to teach me.
Yes, I have a future that is shaped by my accepting the pull of the Camino but it felt to me as if I were being guided. I certainly didn't feel in control of my direction. That was one of the beautiful things about it as, for the first time in my life, I could step into the unknown and let go of the need to know.
I'm now enamoured of long-distance walking and make conscious decisions about where and when I'm going to walk but I leave it up to my good mate, St Jacques (goodness knows why I prefer his French name but that's the way it is) to pull me back to pilgrimage when it's time. It is on pilgrimage that I learn my most valuable life lessons and these are taught when I'm ready to learn them. His timing is impeccable and he hasn't let me down yet.
Sorry Gailsie for moving away from your original message. My deepest and sincerest best wishes for your treatment.
I am watching daily for anyone who has or will walk mid July and have not seen one post....will I be alone for a whole month....?... Or has a bad month chosen me.....just couldn't get that close to Pamplona and not include running of the bulls...also liked the idea of something wild in all the peace....both good food for my spirit....has anyone walked mid July to mid august? I know it will be warm but like that.
Just b
I am sorry to read that you are having problems with your vision.....Macular degeneration is not good and so unfair.......I do hope and pray that you DO get to walk your Camino again......Hugs and healing thoughts coming your way...I walked sections of the Camino Francis (about 600 km) in the fall of 2009. I was so exhausted and sore at the end that I could not contemplate walking again. But the camino was calling me back and I decided to walk Porto to SdC for my 65th birthday. Now I having problems with my macular degeneration and am wondering when I will be able to get to walk, sometime inbetween eye specialist appointments. Being a bit of a control freak this is very frustrating as I cannot plan ahead but have to do this before my vision gets worse.
I am feeling a bit sorry for myself but know that I have to battle to save my vision. My advise is to walk the camino, don't wait - you don't know what will happen in the future.
I'm sending you good thoughts.One more surgery, many more miles of recuperation, and an unexpected gift of an early retirement, and I am ready to go, the tickets are bought. This week a sudden medical issue has come up. Tomorrow I find out if I can go, or if I may have to surrender the dream. My advice? GO NOW!
I walked sections of the Camino Francis (about 600 km) in the fall of 2009. I was so exhausted and sore at the end that I could not contemplate walking again. But the camino was calling me back and I decided to walk Porto to SdC for my 65th birthday. Now I having problems with my macular degeneration and am wondering when I will be able to get to walk, sometime inbetween eye specialist appointments. Being a bit of a control freak this is very frustrating as I cannot plan ahead but have to do this before my vision gets worse.
I am feeling a bit sorry for myself but know that I have to battle to save my vision. My advise is to walk the camino, don't wait - you don't know what will happen in the future.
Of course you are Stephen....Happy Birthday...smiles.Mid July will not be warm. It will be VERY HOT!
It may be unwise to walk after 11 a.m. due to the heat: I would prefer May rather than July/August!
However, that's just a personal opinion.
I'm allowed a personal opinion, as today is my birthday
Love and many, many prayers emonty......you are obviously a very brave and resilient man - I think that you WILL be able to walk your Camino, whether it be now or, at some future time along the path...Thinking of you.I started dreaming of the Camino in 2007 when I met a man who had walked the Camino Frances twice. He plans to do so once more before he dies. Being a teacher, and having 3 children, I knew it would be years before I could afford to go. I finally had made tentative plans to go (unknown to even my wife) in the summer of 2011, and damn the cost! Unfortunately, I required emergency surgery in November of 2010. The only physical activity I was permitted was walking, so I walked my own "Camino" on a treadmill when I was allowed to go back to my teaching job. Obviously I couldn't walk a full day, but I did what I could and kept track of where I was on a spreadsheet. I 'finished', and then started again. During the second semester I walked 774 miles on a treadmill facing a white cinder block wall; that's how determined I was to recuperate.
One more surgery, many more miles of recuperation, and an unexpected gift of an early retirement, and I am ready to go, the tickets are bought. This week a sudden medical issue has come up. Tomorrow I find out if I can go, or if I may have to surrender the dream. My advice? GO NOW!
YAY, YAY, YAY.....such good news to wake up to this morning when I read that. I may even see you along the Way as I am starting on 21st April.. Buen Camino Emonty.Update: First, thank you to all the support I received yesterday after my post to this thread. Test results are in, I DO NOT have a pulmonary embolism and my Camino scheduled for April-May 2014 is still a "go"!
Update: First, thank you to all the support I received yesterday after my post to this thread. Test results are in, I DO NOT have a pulmonary embolism and my Camino scheduled for April-May 2014 is still a "go"!
I would like to meet you and the chances look good!Emonty you & I will be on the same path within a day or the same day. I will spend the night of April 7th @Orrison. We also share that persistent heart disease. So let's rejoice in the fact we can put one foot in front of the other, we have wonderful spouses,family & God I believe opens the path for us.
Keith
Update: First, thank you to all the support I received yesterday after my post to this thread. Test results are in, I DO NOT have a pulmonary embolism and my Camino scheduled for April-May 2014 is still a "go"!
Having just returned home from hospital after a sudden health scare I would also say to walk the Camino while you can. To those of you who have already shared your problems and dreams I trust you can go and say Buen Camino. Prayers for you, and praying for no more problems for myself as we continue our Camino planning.
Praying that all will be well for your Camino plans....Having just returned home from hospital after a sudden health scare I would also say to walk the Camino while you can. To those of you who have already shared your problems and dreams I trust you can go and say Buen Camino. Prayers for you, and praying for no more problems for myself as we continue our Camino planning.
Thank you. Our plans now will depend on the doctor and also how we cope with the travel insurance with a pre-existing condition. Prayers are much appreciated.Praying that all will be well for your Camino plans....
So sorry to read of this Set back in your plans.........at the risk of appearing trite though,' Everything happens for a reason' - and 'there is a time for everything'.... I send lots of cyber support and hopes and prayers that all will be well again soon and that you can then put this behind you and start your training again...Our Camino is off for this year as I have to have a further examination and the doctor says we should not go to Spain at present. So we are praying that the initial test shows the problem and that all will soon be well so we can train ready for next year. It proves the point - walk while you can.
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