I just read every single comment in this thread! WOW!!! THANK YOU to all of you who shared your wonderful stories! I loved them all!
I realize that this is a very old thread, so I’m not sure if anyone will actually see my post, but I feel like I HAVE TO add my story! And if just ONE person see it and can benefit from it, my time writing is well spent.
My motto is: Everything happens for a reason and at the right time! There are NO coincidences! ....And also: If you can dream it you can DO it!
Why am I walking the Camino? (this fall, 2014):
Because I HAVE TO! I don’t know why, but I just know I HAVE TO! I am drawn to it and I just have to go! Period!
How did it get to me?:
Long story!....Many years back, when I was exploring and ‘eating up’ all kinds of books related to spirituality, life and ‘death’, religion etc. I ‘stumbled’ over Shirley MacLaines ‘Out on A Limb’ (and some others by her), which I found interesting at the time. Years later she wrote her Camino book and I thought it sounded REAL DULL and borring,
...not something I would bother to spend my time reading. I avoided it many times, even when it got on sale! A few years later it was almost on a give away, (only a few bucks), so I finally surrendered and thought; ‘What the heck’, there might be at least a few things to pick up from it!?....HA!
I can’t say I enjoyed the book really, but I ate it up even so! I thought it was the dumbest thing I had ever heard of! Why would anyone put themselves through all that?....and yet, it also intrigued me, and I knew I had to do that one day, only not now! Later! So it went on my ‘to-dream-list’ for later, when the time was right for me.
Btw; the reason I fell for Shirleys other books in the first place, was because I, as a young teenager, saw one of her shows in Las Vegas together with my Grandma....as we couldn’t get tickets for the preferred big stars, (I don’t remember who that was, but I fell for Shirley!). So that said, the real seed for my Camino was planted like 30 years ago! And oh, writing this now, I just realize that today would have been my Grandmas birthday....I hear her giggling! Happy BD Grandma!....so much for “coincidences”!
Years passed...since reading ‘The Camino Book’! Busy with work, carreer, family and my new passion with songwriting and going to Nashville to record. No time left for Camino walking, ...but I never forgot. I knew the time would come!
This spring I suddenly started to get little reminders of the Camino, all over the place! Little ‘nudges’ or ‘pokes’ if you like. Like; A songwriter colleague was planning for his Camino. I saw he posted pictures on facebook. A former colleague ‘liked’ a Camino TV series from Danish TV (on facebook) and I noticed she had pictures of her walking it too! Hmmm! An article in a VERY local newspaper, (that I hardly ever read!), about the opening of a new official Pilgrim route starting in Elsinore Denmark, (close to where I live!) and actually going right through my OWN town, ending in Santiago de Compostella! There even was a kick-off walking event and an exhibition about the Camino! Things like that! I knew something was going on!!!
Oh yeah and a facebook group for Danish Pilgrims! That did it!!!
And BAM!....my situation suddenly changed! Crisis and downsizing at work. I got the opportunity to stop working with a very good ‘package’ for leaving. YES!!!! Now I have all the time in the world to walk the Camino! I was ready to go right away, BUT I had already planned a trip to Nashville to record some new songs in May, so that was my 1st priority!
Of course I had to write a new song about my dreaming of the Camino (called: Happy Road). I usually don’t put my songs out for ‘graps’ on the net, but this song was, (just like the Camino!), very ‘pushy’ and ‘wanted to be out there ASAP! Kind Danish Pilgrims let me use their pictures for the video! I booked my flight right before posting the video, so the lyrics would be true!
What fascinates me about the Camino?:
Oh SO many things really! The simple life. No planning, just walking and being. Having time to think and reflect on life, (or decide not to think!?), just do as I feel is right and be in the moment, (accept the present(s)). Being one with nature and enjoy it all. See what happens. Suck it all in. Learn from it all. The unknown; going to a ‘strange’ place, where I don’t even know the language, and not knowing why I go there either. Doing something totally irrational for a change! Explore my limits, how far I can walk, how few ‘things’ I can do with? (I’m at 6 kilo backpack now! I will make it 5!), see how I adapt to the places I get to, and what happens with my mind?... can I REALLY stop planning and setting goals? That is my goal!...haha! (Joke!
) AND of course; I look forward to meeting all the nice pilgrims and other good souls out there, along the road and see what we may have to give each other.
What I want from the Camino?:
I really just want to feel it, see it and be one with it! See what happens! Go with the flow and be open to whatever it brings. Should it lead me to finding my next direction and change in life, I would be grateful. I am SURE there is a good purpose why I am going, no matter what happens!
Buen Camino! I can’t wait!!!
Peace & Love
Ulla
PS: Sorry about this long post! I sat up ALL night to write it, so I HOPE it means something to someone out there!!!?
Most of what I just said is actually included in my song, (it’s on YouTube (link below)!). Here are the lyrics:
Happy Road
Music & Lyrics by: Ulla Lindstroem & David Harper
I am drawn to this place and I don’t know why
I would go there today, if only I could fly
It’s just crazy!
I hardly know what it is?
I’m getting little signs everywhere I look
Like it’s calling to me and ‘sending out a hook’
It’s amazing
The way it’s getting to me!
It’s been lurking for years in the back of my mind
now is the time
I have to go, see this place
get away from the daily race
Expectations? Complications?
I’ll leave them all behind!
Step by step, stone by stone,
I must go
And find my place
Walking the happy road
I need a place I can go and find myself
Just me, alone, and no one else
No distractions
Not a care in the world
Where no one judges, no one stares
And you only bring what you need to ware
Simple living
And a chance to be free!
I’ve been losing myself, going out of my mind
So now is the time
I have to go, see this place
get away from the daily race
Expectations? Complications?
I’ll leave them all behind!
Step by step, stone by stone,
I must go
And find my peace
Walking the happy road
Feeling the sun, stare at the moon
And just breathe in the day
Follow the stars
Walking below the Milkyway
I have to go, see this place
get away from the daily race
Expectations? Complications?
I’ll leave them all behind!
Step by step, stone by stone,
I must go
And find my myself
Walking the happy road
I am drawn to this place and I don’t know why
I will be there soon, I’ve booked my flight
It’s amazing!