The Journey Begins
I guess you could say I hit my "quarter life crisis" on target. I turned 25, quit my job I'd had since college, sold my car, and moved back home to good old Mercer, PA. I had been discouraged with my job for some time, and after a lot of contemplation, I finally had the courage to seek out more from my life.
I've always been fascinated with globes and maps, so on my birthday, I went to the Mapparium in Boston. It was such a simple but cool experience to walk through a globe, and I decided I would spend the next year living out what I just did.
But before the adventures could begin, I had to move home. This required a lot of purging and leaving behind things I had built up over the past few years. (like my teal couches! ha) It was hard, but simplifying has been really powerful.
Since moving home I studied for (a skill I had to re-learn!) and took the GREs, looked at potential grad-schools (the plan is to go back to school Fall '15), and had some excellent mini-adventures (including backpacking parts of the AT, going to the Ben and Jerrys HQ, seeing a rattlesnake, and underground ziplining in Kentucky) It has been an amazing summer catching up with friends and family-- and I am grateful to my parents for supporting my plan.
So to the point of my first blog ...TODAY I embark on the first part of my journey-- my Mom and I will be walking El Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James), a 500 mile hike across Spain. I have been itching to do the Camino for some time, and with a full year off, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. This is my favorite map of the Camino I've found. Probably not the most useful, but fun!
I'm honored to have my mom join me on the Camino. I used to make her carry me up hills on long hikes when I was a kid... I had to promise her I wouldn't be so needy on this hike.
People ask me why I'm doing the Camino. I can't exactly put it into words, but I do know that I am open to the magic of the entire experience. I read this quote in a Camino book and really liked it: "I know I do not always know what is best for me. I would rather have infinite possibilities and allow things I may not have considered to come into manifestation."
Hopefully we've prepared enough and packed properly. If not, I know it will be okay-- that's the beauty of the Camino.
Stay tuned for more adventures from the trail.
Buen Camino,
Grace
I've always been fascinated with globes and maps, so on my birthday, I went to the Mapparium in Boston. It was such a simple but cool experience to walk through a globe, and I decided I would spend the next year living out what I just did.
But before the adventures could begin, I had to move home. This required a lot of purging and leaving behind things I had built up over the past few years. (like my teal couches! ha) It was hard, but simplifying has been really powerful.
Since moving home I studied for (a skill I had to re-learn!) and took the GREs, looked at potential grad-schools (the plan is to go back to school Fall '15), and had some excellent mini-adventures (including backpacking parts of the AT, going to the Ben and Jerrys HQ, seeing a rattlesnake, and underground ziplining in Kentucky) It has been an amazing summer catching up with friends and family-- and I am grateful to my parents for supporting my plan.
So to the point of my first blog ...TODAY I embark on the first part of my journey-- my Mom and I will be walking El Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James), a 500 mile hike across Spain. I have been itching to do the Camino for some time, and with a full year off, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. This is my favorite map of the Camino I've found. Probably not the most useful, but fun!
I'm honored to have my mom join me on the Camino. I used to make her carry me up hills on long hikes when I was a kid... I had to promise her I wouldn't be so needy on this hike.
People ask me why I'm doing the Camino. I can't exactly put it into words, but I do know that I am open to the magic of the entire experience. I read this quote in a Camino book and really liked it: "I know I do not always know what is best for me. I would rather have infinite possibilities and allow things I may not have considered to come into manifestation."
Hopefully we've prepared enough and packed properly. If not, I know it will be okay-- that's the beauty of the Camino.
Stay tuned for more adventures from the trail.
Buen Camino,
Grace
Simply perfect - enjoy the journey and live in the moment. Congrats on taking the first steps!
ReplyDeleteJust attempted a comment and it failed to post.... Hopefully this isnt a double comment... Anyways you are amazing. I hope you and yo mama have an amazing time! I cannot wait to hear more!! Be safe! ��������
ReplyDeleteHave fun Grace! I'll keep an eye out for a postcard =)
ReplyDeleteGrace,
ReplyDeletei really liked the 1st part of your blog... Where you said, you dont know what to do as of now but you know what gives you happiness...
I am excited like you and i will avidly follow you through the blog to experience what you are going through ... Hopefully this will also help me learn different things...
I liked the photo with you and your mom... have a fantastic journey... i wish you and our mom have blast...
It sounds amazing. Also I want to thank you for sharing this experience with all of us. I admire your strength to leave everything and do what makes you happy. Have a great journey!
ReplyDelete