- Time of past OR future Camino
- December 2022
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I’m on a par with Trecile and my enthusiasm (albeit not for the Frances) is still increasing. There are more routes than I’ve time to do; many less crowded and commercialised; and (apart from regretting time away from Mrs HtD and Henry the (actual) dog); it’s where I choose to spend my time.Just curious if you think there is a point where Camiño can be unhealthy either physically or mentally? Or it can become to much with to much time or effort committed to it
I recognize it will be different for everyone. I haven’t found my limit yet. Just back from a long Camiño and planning another next winter. Thinking maybe I need more ways to find joy in life instead of using memories and future planning. Maybe I need more of a live in the moment approach.
And truthfully my body is a little wrecked from walking. Three weeks since I stopped walking and still aches and pains. As a daily yoga practitioner walking drastically effected my body. It will be a long time before I get my yoga strength and flexibility back.
Mentally the walk effected me too. I am much more peaceful and hide behind a smile People don’t understand but surprisingly I am much less tolerant of bad action or dumb behavior so I’m quicker to frustration, disbelief or even anger. I shake my head a lot.
Despite this though I don’t think I’ve found my limit and happily research next winters routes, new gear and how I can apply lessons from last Camiño to the next one. And thoughts of Camiño are frequently on my mind and I happily carry my Camiño smile even when dealing with the aches and pains, decreased flexibility, and increased frustration
My aches and pains disappeared as soon as I stopped walking and I was quite happy about that.Mentally the walk effected me too. I am much more peaceful and hide behind a smile People don’t understand but surprisingly I am much less tolerant of bad action or dumb behavior so I’m quicker to frustration, disbelief or even anger. I shake my head a lot.
This is a very insightful question you ask. I have found myself in the same mindset over the years as I was a long distance walker/hiker/world traveler to the extreme. I have five Compostelas under my belt and have literally spent years continuously traveling the world (living out of a backpack). The Caminos however, were a place where I kept coming back to as I certainly loved the concept of walking from town to town and exploring new places every day. However, after many years (of slowly waning enthusiasm and questioning why I’m still walking/traveling), I soon came to realize I was perhaps ‘running from myself.’ I was always searching for something that perhaps existed once, long ago, but was desperate to find once again. Ironically, it took the global pandemic to force me to stop and stay put for a couple of years. During this time I discovered I missed the excessive walking, hiking and travel less and less. Instead, I found other interests, hobbies, simple pleasures and even rekindled friendships that had fallen by the wayside. Of course the memories are wonderful and I’m so grateful for having had the opportunities and experiences over many decades of global journeys, but I now have a new sense of peace and happiness that doesn’t have me searching, planning or running like I once did. The fact that you have posed this question leads me to believe (from personal experience) you may be at that point where you’ve come to that proverbial ‘fork in the road.’ I wish you luck with whatever decisions you make and enjoy wherever life takes you, even if it’s in your own backyard.Just curious if you think there is a point where Camiño can be unhealthy either physically or mentally? Or it can become to much with to much time or effort committed to it
I recognize it will be different for everyone. I haven’t found my limit yet. Just back from a long Camiño and planning another next winter. Thinking maybe I need more ways to find joy in life instead of using memories and future planning. Maybe I need more of a live in the moment approach.
And truthfully my body is a little wrecked from walking. Three weeks since I stopped walking and still aches and pains. As a daily yoga practitioner walking drastically effected my body. It will be a long time before I get my yoga strength and flexibility back.
Mentally the walk effected me too. I am much more peaceful and hide behind a smile People don’t understand but surprisingly I am much less tolerant of bad action or dumb behavior so I’m quicker to frustration, disbelief or even anger. I shake my head a lot.
Despite this though I don’t think I’ve found my limit and happily research next winters routes, new gear and how I can apply lessons from last Camiño to the next one. And thoughts of Camiño are frequently on my mind and I happily carry my Camiño smile even when dealing with the aches and pains, decreased flexibility, and increased frustration
This is so interesting. Would you be able to elaborate a bit on the rage and disappointment? I’m about to enter the square (2nd time), and am also working on these emotions. OK if you can’t do that here. Thank you.My aches and pains disappeared as soon as I stopped walking and I was quite happy about that.
I noticed afterwards that I had left my life-long rage and annoyance somewhere along the way and picked up disappointment instead.
Camino changes you. It doesn't make you a better person, but it does change you!
This may explain what I’m thinking!Solvitur ambulando.
Maybe we walk until we have solved it all..
Rage is to strong of a word… mostly it’s tolerance. People do something and I let it affect me and want to call them out on it. Used to be I’d say whatever and move on not letting it influence my mood. I’m fairly new off Camiño… I think this will fadeThis is so interesting. Would you be able to elaborate a bit on the rage and disappointment? I’m about to enter the square (2nd time), and am also working on these emotions. OK if you can’t do that here. Thank you.
I'm not (or wasn't) an angry person(as in always angry), but I did get angry or at least annoyed. Since Camino I find that the things that would have made me angry now leave me feeling disappointed with whomever or whatever it is. Some might call that emotionally maturing lol.This is so interesting. Would you be able to elaborate a bit on the rage and disappointment? I’m about to enter the square (2nd time), and am also working on these emotions. OK if you can’t do that here. Thank you.
Just curious if you think there is a point where Camiño can be unhealthy either physically or mentally?
Well, yes and probably moreso for a lot of people on this forum because it involves international travel, a lot of logistics and some walks are timed in months.Or it can become to much with to much time or effort committed to it
On this walk I met I guy who started walking in Prague three years before and now he is walking back. In that time he spent three nights in albergues. Mostly he camped with his dog. I met a Ukrainian guy who fled the war and had been walking a year. Met a Spanish guy who said he had been walking for eight years. So many different people all with a different Camiño.
I had to ask myself these questions - was I taking care of those relationships important to me and to the other person(s)? Was I meeting my financial responsibilities? Was I being responsible with career issues?
I may see you along the way! I will be on a bike, departing Bilbao on 20 June, due to arrive in SdC on 3 July, via the Olvidado and Invierno! Really looking forward to it - it looks beautiful (I won't be able to do the particularly mountainous sections, though - too hard on the bike!).I'm not the right one to ask about reaching a limit, this June I'll be starting my 20th+ Camino.
I've also been fortunate enough to recover quickly (for an almost 67 year old) and haven't yet experienced aches and pains. What I can concur with is that walking affects my Ashtanga yoga practice. It definitely takes a back seat while walking, in fact it's pretty much non-existent which means that I need a couple of weeks to get back to sufficient upper body strength to tackle all the Chaturangas and flexibility to get into a lotus pose. I took my yoga mat once but didn't use it. I tend to walk long stages and just don't feel the need to do any yoga.
Part of the reason that I haven't reached a limit is because I've walked so many different routes. Next month I'll be adding the Olvidado and Invierno which will be totally different from any of my previous walks.
@Decsop oh cool! I'll be doing the Invierno after the Olvidado planning to arrive in Santiago on July 11th.I may see you along the way! I will be on a bike, departing Bilbao on 20 June, due to arrive in SdC on 3 July, via the Olvidado and Invierno! Really looking forward to it - it looks beautiful (I won't be able to do the particularly mountainous sections, though - too hard on the bike!).
My personal concern is weight loss. Every Camino I've done, on my return people tell me "you've lost weight.... again!" I am a pescatarian and to be honest, not knowing the full range of Spanish food and only a few words of Spanish, I find it hard work to eat in Spain. I am used to filleted fish but in Spain and Portugal the fish always seems to arrive at the table whole, full of bones, which believe me, is so inefficient to eat and fill you. Rare to find butter and the lump of bread served in bars is normally so hard, it must be yesterday's. So my Camino apprehension is becoming too skinny!Just curious if you think there is a point where Camiño can be unhealthy either physically or mentally? Or it can become to much with to much time or effort committed to it
I recognize it will be different for everyone. I haven’t found my limit yet. Just back from a long Camiño and planning another next winter. Thinking maybe I need more ways to find joy in life instead of using memories and future planning. Maybe I need more of a live in the moment approach.
And truthfully my body is a little wrecked from walking. Three weeks since I stopped walking and still aches and pains. As a daily yoga practitioner walking drastically effected my body. It will be a long time before I get my yoga strength and flexibility back.
Mentally the walk effected me too. I am much more peaceful and hide behind a smile People don’t understand but surprisingly I am much less tolerant of bad action or dumb behavior so I’m quicker to frustration, disbelief or even anger. I shake my head a lot.
Despite this though I don’t think I’ve found my limit and happily research next winters routes, new gear and how I can apply lessons from last Camiño to the next one. And thoughts of Camiño are frequently on my mind and I happily carry my Camiño smile even when dealing with the aches and pains, decreased flexibility, and increased frustration
Yes -- but this is radically variable from one to the next.Just curious if you think there is a point where Camiño can be unhealthy either physically or mentally?
Ah !! Yeah, that's a stage -- walk a longer Camino, and you'll pass it.Mentally the walk effected me too. I am much more peaceful and hide behind a smile People don’t understand but surprisingly I am much less tolerant of bad action or dumb behavior so I’m quicker to frustration, disbelief or even anger. I shake my head a lot.
Despite this though I don’t think I’ve found my limit and happily research next winters routes, new gear and how I can apply lessons from last Camiño to the next one. And thoughts of Camiño are frequently on my mind and I happily carry my Camiño smile even when dealing with the aches and pains, decreased flexibility, and increased frustration
Just curious if you think there is a point where Camiño can be unhealthy either physically or mentally? Or it can become to much with to much time or effort committed to it
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