Freeing Ourselves from Negative Patterns

The new edition of Shambhala Sun arrived the other day, the same day that I was prompted by one of the readers of this Blog to get at it!

Just like the Camino de Santiago everyday life has its challanges, sometimes everyday.  When walking the Camino it is highly unlikely that you would get up one morning and say, I am not inspired to walk today.  These days I have not been inspired to write.  But this page of the Shambhala Sun is an inspiration to me and a reminder that I have work to do on many fronts.

The page I refer to is an advertisement for a conference called Freeing Ourselves fromNegative Patterns and it says
"Freeing ourselves from habitual thoughts, emotions and actions is the very purpose of Buddhist meditation. Using mindfulness and awareness practice, we see the true nature of negative patterns and liberate ourselves on the spot from their power over us."

I am not a Buddhist by practice but I am always struck by the gentle, kind messages we receive from Buddhist teaching.  When I was walking the Frances, there was a young woman who was also walking who struck me as being so peaceful.  I noted, each time we happend to be at the same albergue, that she meditated each morning before she even got out of her bunk. She did this in the midst of all the goings on that happen in the early morning in the albergues.  I thought wow, I wish I could do that but never did. 

Not moving onto something that I want to do is a negative pattern for me.  Some things are easy to incorparage into my life, but others not so.  Why is it that I can make time to walk for 30 days or more but not make time for meditation during each day?

AS I plan for my next Camino along the north coast, I want to remember to take some of the negative patterns in my life and turn them around, before I leave and when I am there.

I might even take along some ides of meditation and yoga and actually carry them out.

YEAHHHHH I am planning my next Camino!

When You Change Your Mind, Everything Changes

Yesterday I had my book launch.  It was fun and too short, when does one stope talking about one's experience of the Camino De Santiago?  I now have the answer...when everyone leaves!  If I am going to do this again I have to knowwhat to say and when to say it.

But something wonderful happened yesterday.  A woman who came told me at the end that as a result of another Pilgrim's reports she did not want to take the trips.  "Too much garbage, too much graffitti" the other Pilgrim said.  Thea said that after hearing my talk and seeing the photos, she has changed her mind about going and she felt really good about her decision.

Thea is an avid walker in her 70's and now the Camino is back on her list.

She looked radient when she told me about her decision and I thought, you know, changing one's mind about something can change everything.

The process that we go through to take on a trip like walking the Camino is a long one.  So much nags at our brain.  Am I strong enough, dare I take the time for myself, what if I get sick or injured, I don't know if I can do this.  Then suddenly, you make the commitment and everything changes.  Joy shows up, lightness in your step appears, commitment to training is suddenly doable, you smile more and people notice.  Life becomes like that Little Engine That Could.

So if you are still at the point of questioning your ability to make this life changing walk, take the life changing step to say I am now preparing to do this.  And let me remind you that life is a Camino and you (me too) can change our minds about any one thing that holds us back and it will change our whole life!

Carpe Diem my friend - Seize the Day

Now I have to get on with mine ...

http://caminodonalcorcoran.blogspot.com/

LE PUY TO CONQUES ITINERARY

 

Day 1.  Le Puy- St Privat d'allier 22 km
Day 2.  to Sauges 18 km
Day 3.  to Les Faux 25 km
Day 4.  to Aumont Aubrac 27 km
Day 5.  to Nasbinals 26 km
Day 6.  to St Chely d’Aubrac 17 km
Day 7.  to Espalion 26 km
Day 8.  to Estaing 11 km
Day 9.  to Espeyrac 25 km
Day 10. to Conques 13 km
Wow, I just stumbled onto this beautiful blog of photos by a 70 year old pilgrim.   I had to look up this Camino and it is in France.  The more I intend to walk the more Caminos come to me.  Is that the Universe talking!!??

So I decided today that I will be in Spain in July.  I will walk the Camino del Norte for as long as I can in the 4 weeks I will be away.  I know this one will be tough but I also know that I will do what I can do and I will be "walking " for 4 weeks.  O.K., some of that will be travel.

I feel so grateful that I can leave for 4 weeks and that no one says I should not.  I know John, my husband, will miss me as will the dogs and cats but everyone else will just wait for me to return.  I have lived an independent life and I still do.

Sometimes independent becomes loneliness, not lonely but aloneness of course.  But over the years, aloneness has become a resting place.  Meditation is aloneness.  Walking is aloneness but neither have to be loneliness.  There are times when I feel lonely, like during this damned long winter that is finally breaking, and John is away every day doing what he loves, ice fishing!  

I think this is an important point to take with you on your Camino, especially if it is your first.  Being alone does not have to be lonely.  Alone on the Camino gives us time to think, sing out loud, tell ourselves jokes, cry and eventually say hello to yourself.  What a concept.

So our 70 year old pilgrim is having the time of his life, hurt though he was on that Camino, he is full of joy.  May there always be a place for joy in your life and mine.

Until the next time

Love and light.

Bev

The Buff is here and here are photos.

Here is the Buff, two photos, FYI

Japan

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, It is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

Let's join the group and send love and light to those who are suffering in Japan.

Don't Let Life Get In Your Way

"It's interesting how memories and dreams sustain us as we grow older. Life often becomes what we want it to be based on those dreams of long ago. Sadly, we too often forget to live those dreams and we forget that anything is possible in a dream."  This quote is from Jim Dineen.

Jim Dineen is an author, speaker and writer who has experienced dialysis and transplant and all of its ensuing complications in a not so complicated way. His first book, "Life's Just Not That Complicated" very concisely looks at life's challenges and asks, if it's really as difficult as we make it.

I have been making my life difficult lately and that of my darling husband.  Why? Because I have been bored.  Let's get this straight.  I have a house, a family, friends, an active life, dreams that I follow and dreams yet to be followed so the question is - WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE!

We are so fortunate, me and those of you reading this blog.  I am so lucky and I have created the luck that brought me this life I have.  I think back on decisions I have made in my life that have created the place I am now at.  Good ones and bad ones, good places and not so good places.

I see so much concern on the Forum coming from people planning their Camino.  I wish I could just wave a magic wand and wave away worry and fear.  Forgive me if I am repeating myself but I do not worry any more.  When I sense a worry coming my way like, will I have enough money for the rest of my life?, I stop the worry right there in its tracks (old life long tape of insecurity playing itself in my head).  Then I often laugh when I think of Anne's carefree smile as she says "Who Cares!"

There is so much to think about when planning for the Camino and if we let our every day fears and worries control us, life will get in the way and the dream might be forgotten.  The Camino life is carefree.  You get up, brush your teeth, wash your face, comb your hair, eat your breakfast, say Buen or Bom Camino to those around you and head out.  Life is not that complicated and life is 100% your Camino.

Don't lose your dreams, make them part of your awake reality.

Admiration

I have been reading people's stories of walking the Camino in winter.  I have to admire these pilgrims!  Given where I live, cold is not an issue for me and I doubt that it gets to be -30 C on the Camino Frances or any of them for long like it does here.  What I admire is the intention of a little suffering just like the ancients.  I just received a note from a reader who finished the Camino Portuguese recently.  Reports of cold Albergues (Padrone) put me off but then I know I could survive. 

I love the warm even hot weather.  My friends will tell you that it seems to pick me up the hotter it gets, right Anne!

Now I am reading on the forum about the festivals in Spain along the Camino and everywhere - because we are approaching Easter.  How wonderful it would be to be there at this time of year with all that good vibration going on.  Can you imagine the Cathedral on Easter!  Wow.

I guess walking in the early spring would require a whole new approach to equipment.  Interesting.... I might have to experience that for my second edition!

Buds on the trees

Yes, spring is coming, there are buds on the trees.

I was thinking this morning of the beautiful difference the seasons make on the earth.  Not that this is an original thought but after all my years, seasonal changes are still profound.  Soon the buds will start to pop and the grass will start to grow.  Flowers will emerge from their winter dormancy just like me. 

I was remembering the beautiful spring days on the Camino Frances.  We were surpriseded that there was so little rain that year for us.  Everywhere we were trees were covering themselves with blossoms, the earth was drinking in the sun's warmth and waking up the plants that became its carpet.

Then I remembered the day going into Zubiri (Day 3) and the mud.  This was a day of rain.  This was an uphill day when all we could do was keep going.  I have a photo of the mud path and I call it "The Mud of the Centuries".  Imagine the ancients walking in those conditions.  We at least had our good boots and shoes, our mud guards or gaiters and apart from being tired, we were fine.  

Anne and I had our breath taken away by the purples, yellows, blues and whites on the mountains going into Galieca.  I think I took more photos that day than any.

Then I thought about Spain in the fall last year.  Everything was green.  The flowers were not as bright and they were fewer.  They had begun to shut down.  BUT, the harvest was about to begin.  Figs, grapes, kiwis, persimmons hung from trees and vines everywhere.  The figs were falling off the trees along the roadside and at one "bar" the vines were growing over our heads with still hard kiwi's waiting for their moment of transition into succulent fruit.

Now I am thinking of transition and how we as pilgrims transform on The Way.  Everyone has their own transformations, some deny any.  But walking even for 2 weeks transforms a part of each of us that we may or may not recognize for a long time.  In addition, I am beginning to believe that part of the difficulties we have returning from our Camino experiences to our everyday life is that we so desperately are trying to bring that "season" of our growth back to an environment that cannot sustain it to its fullest.  We are back in the mud!

But, just like the seasons of the planet, our seasons can and do return to our spirit.  I read just a few minutes ago that the not so great days in our lives can be turned around by changing our perspective.  That is not so easy but neither was (or will be) climbing the Pyrenees but we did it.

So while I am waiting for Spring, I will notice as many buds as I can.  I will watch for the grass peeking up and out of the snow along side the tulip spikes.  I will change my perspective and think about a new season.

Here's to your Spring and to all of us planning our next Camino.
 

Inspiration has returned...

O.K., it has been over a month since I wrote something.  I put my absence down to a long winter that has sapped my inspiration!  But wait, I think it is coming back.

A woman who read my book told me that she is now inspired to walk.  Not just walk more and more long distance walks but to walk the Camino.  She loves life and like me she loves to move her body.  She is a champion Dragon Boat paddler, she is preparing to walk a half marathon, she wants to walk across Canada and those are only some of her credentials.  We talked today and she is very excited about the possibility of walking the Camino Portuguese next year.  She will love it.

She has inspired me to write this blog today.

I realised by talking with her that I did not mention anything in my book about "training" for the Camino.  I further realised that it never entered my mind to write about training.  I know why.  I am active by nature.  (I saw that phrase somewhere and have made it mine.)  So by not mentioning training in my book, I did not acknowledge those who will read my book and who are not as active as I am.  So let me correct that now for the few of you who will read this.

Darlene, my new friend, mentioned she would like to get a walking coach.  Because of her paddling and other physical activities that required coaching I assume she felt that a coach is the way to go for walking too.  I know that some organizations are offering classes for people who want to Nordic pole walk.  I know too that many people like the comfort of a watchful eye and helpful feedback.  If I had had a coach for cross country skiing I know I would be better at it than I am - I still cross-country shuffle. But a walking coach?

O.K. let's look at the possibilities.  I think speed walking competitions require coaching.  There are rules that must be followed such as the walker always must have a toe or heel touching the ground.  If not it is considered running and you are disqualified.  That happened to an unfortunate athlete a few summer Olympics ago just 10 or so meters from the finish line.  She, of course, was disqualified and devastated.  Walking with Nordic Poles can be problematic if they are not the right length.  Shoulder and elbow problems can result  if the poles are too short or too long. The proper extension is necessary for healthy joints to stay healthy just like in riding a bike.  If the seat is too low you will not get proper extension of the leg and knee problems will follow over time.

I think the coaching required for long distance walking is not so much about body movement per se but about the equipment you need.  All the great equipment out there can help your walking and your stamina so much when you get it right.  My sister-in-law got bad advice about "the right" shoes for her and her Camino was not a happy one.  I made an error in choosing the back-pack that I used on my first Camino.  I ended up using bungee cords to make it fit right so that my back did not hurt!  Without the right rain gear, poncho, jacket, cape etc, you can be very uncomfortable.

Underwear is an item that is not often talked about when preparing, but boy you don't want ones that ride up!  Seams on everything, including your socks can make you crazy when you can't adjust them properly. 

Hats and sunglasses need to fit and offer the protection you need.  So I believe what is most needed is not a movement coach but an equipment coach.

To, my new friend Darlene, this post is for you.  I want to say thanks for the inspiration.  I look forward to walking with you and sharing stories. 

To my readers, the miracle is that Darlene lives "just around the corner" and we never knew each other before last week.  Camino miracles continue.

So regarding the book,

I am excited to tell you that my book is now in e-format too.  For the soft cover, the publisher contact is www.authorhouse.com  You would then search Planning Your Camino to order.
Now, however, if you Google the phrase, several e-book distributors will come up including American and U.K. distributors.

Darlene said something like, the book is "chalk block full of needed information for the trip" so I hope you enjoy it.

Cheers

....is spring here yet?