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It took me precisely 27 days to walk 799km. Camino de Santiago in Spain. And no, apparently that can’t be rounded off. It’s been laminated on my certificate. Did you know human beings actually have the capacity to transform into an actual tortoise and develop a bodily shell? Yep, this will happen when carrying an oversized backpack that containing your life’s belongings. The night before I left, I lay in bed, wide-eyed. I don’t think I ever known fear like it. In a matter of hours, I was going to leave the house, for a month. A month of physical, mental and environmental uncertainty. I knew I would never return as the same person, and I really did wonder could I actually die out there? It was too late to back out though so I decided to leave anyway with my literal fears of impending death. The Camino is like a compressed down work experience for life. Trying to sum it up is impossible, it’s like one of those massive Lord of the Rings books, large and full of epic amazingness. But there is a word that keeps coming to mind when I think of the Camino, and that is connection. While I was out there I noticed fellow walkers and friends all seemed to be trying to connect with something. Everyone had a story. Daily, I walked somewhere between 25 to 40 km. Starting at about 7am and finishing at about 5pm. And it took me exactly 3 days to realize, there was no way I would be able to do this alone as planned. Realizing this arrived like an unexpected smack in the face. Walking along with pilgrims, talking about life. All of us, now accredited philosophers. It was in the company of friends we would learn things. Hear valuable tales. Cook communal dinners. Share the pain of walking this insane path we had all signed up for. Each and every one of us questioned our sanity while out there. Laughing and agreeing it was far too late to give up now. Hello, reputations on the line! It was in these moments I learned the importance of connecting with others. Everyone has something to teach you. Eske from Denmark taught me the value of calm. Nick from the UK taught me the value of family. Rodrigo, taught me to look the hell up and walk around a flood plain of water instead of through it. Not to mention the nuns, the locals, and all the lovely people who provided us with much needed hospitality. Really, I could go on.. Without the kindness, wisdom and generosity shared, I would not in a million years have survived the Camino. As I have returned from my trip, it seems as if I have a new pair of glasses as I see the important connections people maintain and create every day. And the connection within? Well. When walking 25 to 40 km a day. Through unknown land, with unknown people, in agony, its vital you know how to connect with yourself. For one, listening to the voice within telling you when to eat, sleep, have coffee or pass out, turns out it’s paramount! I began this inner journey before I left. Not just attempting to be self-compassionate and rational while I literally thought, I was going to die. But in my preparation. I asked myself many honest questions. Why was I going anyway? What did I hope to learn? Obstacles? What training do I need to do? Prepared or not, every day and every moment was new and unfamiliar. It was enriching and colourful. The only piece of reliance I essentially was my voice within! Every decision, every stopping point, every time I decided, instead of resting I could in fact keep going. There’s no doubt about it the Camino path is beautiful, but something I learned and took home with me was, the unknown and majestic path is not just to be found out there in Spain. We walk, in our daily lives in the very same way. We are challenged, we are surrounded by beautiful people who can teach us, believe in us and even drag us those bad days.