There is a saying on the path: “The Camino doesn’t give you want you want. It gives you what you need.”
My Camino has been a very skillful teacher, a loving guide, and a constant companion, leading me not just to a physical destination, but to a place of inner transformation. The Camino has a way of stripping away the superficial, leaving only the essence of who you are, whether you like it or not.
As I walk the kilometers of the Camino del Norte, I find myself constantly reflecting on this profound journey. It has been a catalyst for incredible personal transformation, teaching me the true meaning of self-empowerment, self-love, and vulnerability.
When I first set out on this pilgrimage, I wasn’t sure why I was taking this journey. Sure, there was the physical challenge of walking this Camino, but there was also a deeper calling within me that I couldn’t quite put my finger on at the time. Looking back now I was searching for a way to reconnect with myself, to peel back the layers that life had built up over the years, and to rediscover my true essence - who I truly am.
This has been the perfect environment for self-discovery and growth. With each step, I feel myself becoming more authentic, more ME. This time has allowed me the space I need to listen to my own thoughts and feelings without distractions and most importantly, without judgment. I have found the courage to embrace who I truly am at my core, with all my strengths and imperfections.
I have come to realize (and accept) vulnerability is actually a superpower of mine, not something that needs to be hidden away, but rather celebrated full on. It allows me the courage to be open, to show my true self to others, and to face my fears. Because of it I have opened myself to deeper connections with the people I have met and have experienced my life in a much more meaningful way.
Each step forward has been a testament to my resilience and determination, teaching me that I am capable of far more than I have ever allowed myself to imagine. I am capable of enduring, of moving forward no matter the challenge, which has allowed me to rediscover an inner confidence that has been dormant within me for quite some time.
This path has taught me that self-transformation is not about becoming someone new, it’s about uncovering the strength, wisdom, and love that have always been within. I have the power to shape my own destiny, to walk my own path wherever that path takes me. I have an inner knowing that ‘I am enough’ just as I am, with ALL my imperfections.
This journey has been a pilgrimage for my soul, a testament to the power of walking, of moving forward - momentum, step by step. I walk with a heart that is so full of love, a spirit that is empowered, and a soul that is deeply, divinely loved.
With gratitude in my heart, I WALK.
~Candace ❤️
