Hiking Today Was Good for My Soul!

While Hiking the Picturesque Coastline Today, My Mind was on My Childhood

It was a long and exhausting day. Our group hiked 22 Km today directly on the coastline! We were 2 days from Porto heading north. Heavy winds set in yesterday and the beach hike was brutal. Those winds did not disappoint and they blew in again today! It was tough, but thankfully a portion of the hike was close to 1 Km inland which offered some protection from the ocean winds.

I could not believe how gorgeous the scenery was! The colours were spectacular and I found myself taking so many photos along the way!

The group of us were forging ahead through the winds and making progress. We were not walking together but only meters apart.

It is no secret that I absolutely adore Helen and her daughters Angel and Allison (Allison is not with us this year). They are Australian and have always made me feel so much a part of their family. I met them on my first day of my first Camino in 2015 and they welcomed me into their family. We got along so well. This is our third Camino hike together and we really have formed a close bond.

We were walking and talking today. At one point the three of us gave each other a little hug and Helen told me that I would always be part of their family. I have to say, it deeply touched my heart.

I was walking much of today thinking about my own mother (something I do a lot ). Whenever I have watched Helen and Angela together, it has always made reflect upon what it might be like if I were to do this pilgrimage with my mother. Unfortunately, that is not an option for me because my mother passed when I was just 11 years old.

It has been terribly difficult living a life without a mom, but I always hoped she was with me, at least in a spiritual sense. Today, I thought of all the times in my life my mom was not there with me. She was never there to see me do things. Things like sports, graduation, achievements, and hold me and tell me all would be ok.

Today I felt that she was with me all day. I think that is because I felt like part of a family today. Thank You Helen and Angela for making me part of your family! I am truly very Thankful.

I AM THANKFUL FOR SO MUCH!

I have felt particularly blessed on this trip. I have been quite conscious of the blessed life I live! It has not been without hardship and work! I have always tried to look for the positives and lessons that arise from going through tough times. I believe that it is by going through the tough times that we build strength and character

I think that sometimes we can look at the negative or tragic things that happen in our life and spend the rest of it concentrating on them.

Although I lost my mother at a very early age, I still feel blessed by the many opportunities I have had. This is a lesson I have learned through time and much reflection.

I am ever thankful to have had tremendous opportunities to do amazing things, travel to amazing places, work in a career that I loved, and make life long friends with people from all over. My family is amazing and I am a lucky guy.

My mother has been there with me the entire time! I have always preferred to focus on the blessings I have had in my life rather than the hardships! The Camino taught me that!

I often talk about how our lives can be compared to an oil painting. If we were to paint a picture representing our lives, what colour palette would we choose?

I would choose as many vivid colours as possible mixed in with a small amount of darker colours. I know my painting would be much brighter than people would think because I would choose to focus on those positive things in my life. Some of the darker moments I can’t go back and change. I would do not ever choose to dwell on them.

When I am hiking and seeing the beautiful scenery, I stop and take my time to notice and enjoy it. I realize how lucky I am and have been. I try to to look at every lived experience and determine what was positive that came from it. I acknowledge the painful times, accept them, then try to see what positives might have come from those negative experiences.

Speaking of vivid colours, I was fortunate enough to capture some really beautiful images. You can see some of them below.

PHOTOS OF THE START OF THE DAY ON THE BEACH COAST OF PORTUGAL!