Walking alone for 800km along the Camino-Frances trail in Spain will undoubtedly bring with it the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. It will test my mettle with minimal modern distractions, and I hope to rise above and overcome the challenges thrown my way and have an unrivalled sense of achievement as I walk into the Square at Santiago de Compostela 30-plus days after first setting off.
And from everything I’ve ever read about the Camino-Frances pilgrimage, when you’re at your absolute lowest and all you seem to be feeling is dispair and hopelessness, exhaustion and pain, somehow the Camino provides. Fellow pilgrims, strangers, appear just when you need that kind word of encouragement, that different perspective, that helping hand to get you through and back on track. The good nature of others rises to the top and restores your faith in humanity. Something we can easily miss and so seldom see nowadays.
Similarly and in parallel to the Camino experience, I feel that while navigating this weird and wonderful thing we call life, we will also face challenges along the way. We can sometimes feel alone regardless of the support we may have from family and/or friends around us. It’s a normal feeling, not at all uncommon, and sometimes it just takes the kind word of someone you don’t even know to get you past those negative feelings and get you through one day at a time, and help you enjoy your best possible future.
So you may still be wondering why I’m even doing this. And that’s a good question. It’s partly because I wanted to use my long-service leave in a way that was meaniful and experiential to me, as opposed to just getting hammered in Bali (not that there’s anything wrong with that). It’s also partly because since backpacking Europe nearly 18 years ago I have yearned to return to the beautiful country that is Spain. And, movies like “The Way” and even my own family’s travels on the Camino have inspired me to strip myself back to my raw-self, walk alone with my thoughts, and test my limits.
But above all else, it’s most importantly a way I can bring awareness to Mental Health problems that are prevalent in our modern world. And dare I say, have always been prevalent throughout humanity but we’re simply more acutely aware of these problems nowadays.
So for those that wonder why, I say why not? Or as they say in Spanish, por qué no?
And guess what, you’re all invited to come along for the ride too. Just subscribe to my blog and you’ll get every update as it’s published.
Finally, if this inspires you in some way or you just want to show your support for either my personal journey or the cause I’m attempting to raise awareness of, please consider donating $5, $10, whatever you can afford to the Black Dog Institute via my Walking with Strangers fundraising page. 100% of the donations go directly to the Black Dog Institute via that portal and together we can all make a difference to someone that’s perhaps going through a rough patch in their life or worse. Research, Education and Support saves lives. It might even be the life of someone you know.
See ya on the trail!