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The trick to conquering the lingering disappointment may be to learn to enjoy the responsibilities instead of viewing them as burdens.
Not sure I buy into your view of freedom/responsibility. For me while on the Camino my Freedom was very real and I enjoyed it greatly. Like everything else in life, it comes and then it goes, but while I experience it, it is real. As for the responsibilities I have whilst not on the Camino, I simply accept them as mine and behave accordingly. I do not see my responsibilities as burdens, it is just that I prefer the responsibilities I have whilst on The Way.In most ways it is a false sense of freedom, freedom available only when you are on the camino. "Real life" has responsibilities. Responsibility for anything except yourself is pretty much gone while on the camino, but returns when one returns home. The trick to conquering the lingering disappointment may be to learn to enjoy the responsibilities instead of viewing them as burdens. Some film in the sixties or seventies had a line of approximately, "life is harder than we ever expected it to be." When our optimism about the promises of life are not met, our expectations are not met. The problem lies in the expectations, not life. Most of us expect very little while trekking, so there is very little closure required to reconcile expectations with experiences. If you can take that attitude home, it helps make the camino withdrawal less intense. Actually, it makes life a bit better!
Reflecting on my walk from Pamplona to Santiago in May/June 2016, it seems to me now that it is difficult to find or recreate in my every day life the joy that I felt along The Way. I think the essence of that joy was largely simplicity & freedom.
Simplicity in the walk, sleep, eat, repeat routine. Simplicity in relationships, in clothing, in carrying everything I needed in a backpack, in being in nature, the irrelevance of what job you do or what kind of car you drive or how much money you earn.
Freedom to be who I actually am - not identified as someone's wife or mum, freedom to listen to birds, revel in nature, freedom to enjoy relationships & so many interesting people, freedom in breathing fresh air & having space rather than buildings. Freedom to do something you love...
I think the simplicity & freedom of the walk instilled a sense of peace & joy in my heart but find that living back in a city has diminished this somewhat...
Did anyone else feel the same simplicity & freedom? If so - what did they mean to you?
SabineP - this is something I do too.But indeed after every Camino I seem to throw away more stuff and keep only the essentials.
Nice to think that is how it is but it is not always so. Last year between Condom and SJPDP on the Le Puy route I had been walking with a Frenchman for a few days when he asked me what I did before I retired. When I replied that I had been a house painter his attitude towards me changed. Within 5 minutes I never saw him again. He had been telling me how educated he was so I presume he did not want to walk with somebody who he considered a peasant.the irrelevance of what job you do
Sorry to hear that Marbuck - I didn't come across this on my walkNice to think that is how it is but it is not always so. Last year between Condom and SJPDP on the Le Puy route I had been walking with a Frenchman for a few days when he asked me what I did before I retired. When I replied that I had been a house painter his attitude towards me changed. Within 5 minutes I never saw him again. He had been telling me how educated he was so I presume he did not want to walk with somebody who he considered a peasant.
My wife and I laughed about it later, it did not put us off our Camino. We are going back for our fourth walk this year, this time in Italy.In his book "Immortelle randonée Compostelle malgré moi"Jean-Christophe Rufin wrote...after 24 hrs everyone is equal on the Camino it doesn't matter whether you are a teacher, house painter, Doctor or anything else , ........well words to that effect.
Rufin is a member of the Académie francaise , a diplomat and a doctor. My belief is that he is right.
@marbuk I wouldn't give that rediculous "educated man" another thought.
You do come across all sorts of pilgrims during your walk. Most of them are very nice people.Sorry to hear that Marbuck - I didn't come across this on my walk
Bradypus - I really enjoyed your story! Of course, not everyone is like this, but it was certainly true of the pilgrims that I met along The Way@marbuck I hope that most of us can rise above that and see the person who is actually standing beside us.
this conversation is great. Camino: the comment on the smile for a stranger. Perhaps the Camino gave me the ability to smile foolishly to strangers, men and women, young and old. It has been 5 yrs since my first walk, a wonderful time. Last year while walking in New Bedford, a family I did not know walked the opposite way. We all smiled a bit, but the young girl, about 5 yrs, detached herself and ran up to me to give me a great big hug. I'm sure it is the camino smile.Bradypus - I really enjoyed your story! Of course, not everyone is like this, but it was certainly true of the pilgrims that I met along The Way
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