I was struck to come across a New York Times article last week titled, “Go Ahead. Fantasize.” Apparently, me fantasizing that I am walking across another country on a spiritual quest isn’t all that weird given the challenging times we are living in. Covid and all the changes and illness and loss that has introduced, a cold dark and windy winter and political division and divisiveness that feel unending apparently are pushing many people right along with me to enter their own fantastical worlds in which they dream about what they will do in better times. In the article, Dr. Seligman who studies human agency, says “the hours spent fantasizing and daydreaming about future plans are valuable. They allow people to escape routine and cultivate hope and resilience.” Perfect!
Nothing will replace the actual experience of walking the Camino de Santiago, but I am sure having a wonderful time fantasizing from Idaho until I can make my dream a reality. It is cultivating hope in me for better times ahead and in life I have learned that the first step to making something a reality is to dream about it.
Considering work and other responsibilities, I feel I am making decent progress on my quest to complete the Camino virtually. Since January 1st, I have completed 115 kilometers of the 788 km of the walk. I’ve printed off copies of the maps and tracked my progress by using a different colored highlighter marker. For every 10 km of progress towards my goal I get to stamp my map. I keep my maps in a “Virtual Credencial” that I have created which you can access below if you care to. A “Credendial” is the document that pilgrims must keep with them while on their journey. This basically serves as a “pilgrim’s passport” and allows the pilgrim to stay in the many different Albergues(Hostels) that are all along The Way.
I decided to allow myself to count the distance that I walk while working as part of my progress on the camino. One of my goals for the new year is to pay attention to every moment I’m in, to appreciate the many patients and the wonderful coworkers and the stories they bring into my life. As long as I’m in that pilgrim mindset, no matter where I’m at, my “steps” to Santiago count. What are some of the things you fantasize about doing when we finally get back to “normal”? Has the past year caused you to reevaluate?
It is Solved By Walking- St. Augustine 