2,020 km in 2020 — walks across Europe. That was the gift I came up with for myself for my 50th birthday.
Five years ago, on September 16, I set out from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on my first Camino, in the unusual circumstances of the pandemic: deserted towns, closed albergues and hotels, a handful of pilgrims, masks on our faces…
After a month, I reached Santiago de Compostela. In the cathedral, it wasn’t the relics of the Apostle James that captured my attention, but the words of the Polish Pope:
“Find yourself! Be yourself!”
Addressed to Europe, I read them as a call to me personally. And so, the unexpected meaning of that pilgrimage became the beginning of another journey — the most fascinating adventure of my life. One that will never get boring, never end, and will always carry deep meaning.
I am fortunate: supported by my loved ones, blessed with health, meeting wonderful people — friends, teachers, mentors, and coaches. Life and work circumstances have also been favorable. Sometimes I wonder: how can I ever give back for all of this?
As I write these words, I see that this truly is a Buen Camino.