Oh Camino, What Are Throwing My Way Now?
August 3 – Roncesvalles to Viscarret
Friendship
I can’t tell you enough how important and exciting it is for me to have met up with this group of people again and be given the opportunity to share some of the Camino experience with them.
Yesterday, we re-united in joy and we feel blessed that we are able to walk it together again this year! I couldn’t be happier!
I met this group on Day 1 of my first Camino in 2015. We met as strangers. We walked 500 Km together and became GREAT friends!
We were hiking buddies, roommates, dinner companions, Â and conversation partners for a period of over 25 days!
When we met, I realized that we shared very little in common except that we were walking the Camino. The Camino was our common goal. It was through this experience that I ended up forming some of the best friendships and loving relationships that anyone could ever find.
I recall sitting and talking with these 7 people, all from different nations and really getting to know them. It was through doing that, we discovered that our similarities far outweighed our differences. In a different context or setting, I wonder if I would given getting acquainted enough time for us to become friends?
It was through our friendship, that I discovered people with kind, loving, and caring souls.
We may live continents apart, but we’ve been able to maintain a friendship that is truly important to me and one that has  changed my life!
I cannot imagine what my Camino experience would have been like if I never took the time to get to know them.
I thought a lot about this during our early morning hike through done very beautiful towns.
Judgement:
As I continued hiking through the gorgeous countryside, I thought back to the number of times I chose not to get to know people, or made a judgment about them.
It really made me think that the next time I meet people I should never be quick to judge. Â I should never react without smiling, write someone off who is different before getting to know them.
You just never know who it is you come across when you first meet them. You may never realize how important they could become to you, or what type of a wonderful friend that they could become unless you’re open to the possibility.
I just could not get this off my mind as I hiked through the following foothills.
Oh Camino, why did I have to think about this today?
I was meant to simply enjoy my friends and our reunion together, or so I thought!
I could not get the following off my mind;
How many times have I passed judgement on other people? It just kept coming to the surface as I hiked today for hours today.
Moving Forward:
Now what do I do with all that I thought about today ?
It started to become clear as I spent a few more hours hiking through the countryside .
I know that I hate when I feel like I personally have been judged by others . Therefore it is up to me to make sure that I do not do the same to other people or, at least try not to.
What I learned today is that I must try as hard as possible not to pass judgement on others until I get to know them.
Have you ever prematurely judged others? Think about it? Is it the best way to treat people?
I will now put in more effort when I get home in not doing this.
TOTAL TRACKER STEPS TODAY:
25,192
KEEP WALKING!
