Mahatma Ghandi once wrote, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. And the world needs for us to change. Mother Nature is telling us so. She can take a breath, the atsomphere is clearing, there are signs of life in waters that seemed to have long sinse been clogged with human interventions and we are finding new and novel ways of interacting. How strange, the existence we have found ourselves in and how did we get to this point? The signs have been there for some time. She warned us, but we didn’t listen. Now is our chance to listen and act. And let’s have faith in faith. Gandhi also said, Ïn a gentle world, you can shake the world. We have innumerable chances to be better people, to be kind to ourselves, to others and to shake the world. Mother Nature. give us a chance.
This new world has shaken and scared me and I long for the chance to once again find that place where I can just be. As I’m working from home, my mind constantly wanders to a bright blue Ospray pack in a dark corner of my cupboard, a teasing pair of boots and a loyal drink bottle that helped me on the Cotswold Way. I can’t get the Camino out of my mind. I want to be able to grow in the open air, not hunched over my computer. I want to sleep with the snoring (well, not really, but it sounded poetic). I want my pack on my back (carrying only 10% of my body weight – yeah right) and I want to walk. Just walk – and eat tortilla of course. It’s the inner spiritual peace that I’m craving.
I want to learn that I can once again fall gently from the sky and land on my feet, instead of my head. My physical scars are healing but I think the mental scar of facing death needs some gentle nurturing. In a way, I feel like I have lost my life’s purpose, it’s like I’ve been given a second chance but can’t quite figure out what to do with it, hence the Camino call. I just want to put one sore foot in front of the other and exist day to day.
They say never look back, but for now I’m going to keep looking back to my Camino journey because I intend to go that way again. But in the meantime I’m going to do my bit to give Mother Nature the space to breathe, do what I need to do to be kind to my neighbours and cats and try to get a wee glimpse into my life’s purpose.
I’m blessed to be living in New Zealand at this time and I worry for my family and pals overseas . (I always seem to be worried about someone!) I feel so lucky to be able to work from my amazing home where I can see the tidal changes each day and hear the tui calling. And Camino de Santiago, I’ll be walking your path once again. Have patience, Mother Nature will let me be there when she is ready.
And the inner peace? It will come, I have faith in faith.
Finally there. Tears of relief and gratitude 
In loving memory of Noreen Cleary-Brown who passed away last year 
Jules From New Zealand 
Beautiful words Julie. I feel very similar. The simplicity and beauty of the the camino, walking in nature with your thoughts, the beautiful people you meet along the way, the majesty of big skies and a path into the distance, the sore feet/tired bones and an easy sleep at the end of a long day, there is so much to miss. The camino awaits you once the world is more settled. Kia kaha amigo. Bernie
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Oh Jules, I hear you. Feeling for you and relating for myself. Having not done the Camino I wonder, do those who live there with their responsibilities and loved ones to worry about feel at peace? Oh where, when and how to feel prolonged inner peace. Take care gorgeous woman xo
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