How can taking one step forward mean so much?
Finding healing, connection, and purpose on an ancient pilgrimage across Spain.
In 2018, I spent six weeks walking the Camino de Santiago (500 miles), and it was a life-changing experience. This journey fostered emotional connections with people from all over the world, a therapeutic experience of living in the moment, and so much more.
The Camino is a network of pilgrimage routes leading to the shrine of the Apostle Saint James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwestern Spain. For centuries, it has drawn millions of pilgrims, each walking for their own reasons—spiritual, physical, or emotional healing. The purpose of my journey was not just the physical challenge, but also an opportunity to mend my broken heart, feel emotionally free, and share this experience with my love. It was a chance to step outside of my comfort zone, feel free in nature, and remain open to whatever gifts each day would bring.
The gentle crunch of gravel underfoot seemed louder than usual in the peaceful silence of the early morning. Each morning as I began my walk along a segment of the Camino, it felt as if I were seeing the world with new eyes. The natural beauty of the route, with its rolling hills and endless sky, was breathtaking. Passing other pilgrims and saying “Buen Camino”—a Spanish phrase meaning “good path” or “good journey”—became part of the rhythm of each day.
Seeing friends who became my Camino family, finding the perfect cup of espresso in a small café in the woods, stopping to admire the beauty of a 12th-century bridge or a 13th-century church, someone selling fresh fruit along the roadside, pausing to pet a wild horse in the mist of the Pyrenees, and sitting quietly beneath sprawling trees on a sunny afternoon while hearing church bells from the next village—these moments defined the journey. It was not just the physical act of walking each day, but the experience of weaving my steps along paths trodden by so many others before me.
But the Camino also presented unique challenges. There were moments of frustration, confusion, and fatigue—sore blistered feet, aches and pains, exhaustion, and days when I found myself at the end of the day with nowhere to stay. There were steep climbs and difficult ascents, gravel, mud, and rain. But somehow, it always worked itself out, either through sheer determination or the help of a fellow pilgrim. In the end, it felt like a great accomplishment, and I was proud to have had the opportunity. It empowered me.
Along the path, I marveled at the architectural splendor of ancient churches and the serene beauty of the Spanish countryside. I began appreciating the small things I might otherwise have overlooked: a large tree in the morning mist, a field of yellow canola shining in the Rioja afternoon sun, or a smoothly flowing river under the bridge in Puente la Reina.
Reaching the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was an emotional climax. Standing before the imposing façade among a crowd of other pilgrims, I felt a profound connection not only to my Camino self, but also to the thousands of souls who had traversed the same path, each carrying their own burdens and hopes. In this sacred space, it wasn’t about ending a journey, but about honoring the experience and continuing to move forward.
The lessons learned on the Camino went beyond what I had hoped. It reinforced the power of love and patience, the ability to face situations that took me out of my comfort zone, and the importance of making every moment count.
This translates into my passion for people living with dementia. Understanding that every situation creates both challenge and opportunity, it is up to us how we respond to those challenges and how we choose to use those opportunities moving forward.
