Yes, I have been rather coy about the actual mileage of my trek thus far. Today, being the last day of the first month of this Emerald Hills Camino, it feels like the right time to share now far I have gone. I am halfway home to finding my way home. When the pilgrims traverse across Europe on various versions of the walk, there is a definite destination, Santiago De Compostela. This pilgrim is seeking another destination entirely, and while I know the way geographically, it is more and more clear, my journey is all about finding a new way home, a place of peace.
My home for decades was Neal, my children. Wherever we lived, home was at first the two of us, then 3, then 4. Neal and I knew the kids would grow up and find their own ways eventually, and we had schemes brewing about how we would move closer to them if they left this area or my plan which was to expand the house, build a cottage in the back, and all live within a shout of each other forever (much like the plan in which both of my kids would be vegetarians who never watched TV). Neal kept gently reminding me that they might not want to live next door to the chickens as adults, I still disagree! When Dylan and Bridget got together, and it was quite clear to all of us that this special person was joining the family for keeps, my family commune dream expanded. And then, so much changed. What has not changed is how important home is to me, how much I want my kids to always know that we have a homebase, a place of peace and belonging for all of us.
As I walk and walk and walk, and return home again and again and again, this same/different life feels more possible.
Ram Das wrote a book, "Be Here Now", about being present in your life, using spirituality, yoga, and meditation as ways to be engaged in the moment, not the past, nor the future as a means to live in peace. I am here to say, this stuff works!
My walks are simple, I breathe, step, breathe, step and somewhere, peace finds me up here in the hills.
My home for decades was Neal, my children. Wherever we lived, home was at first the two of us, then 3, then 4. Neal and I knew the kids would grow up and find their own ways eventually, and we had schemes brewing about how we would move closer to them if they left this area or my plan which was to expand the house, build a cottage in the back, and all live within a shout of each other forever (much like the plan in which both of my kids would be vegetarians who never watched TV). Neal kept gently reminding me that they might not want to live next door to the chickens as adults, I still disagree! When Dylan and Bridget got together, and it was quite clear to all of us that this special person was joining the family for keeps, my family commune dream expanded. And then, so much changed. What has not changed is how important home is to me, how much I want my kids to always know that we have a homebase, a place of peace and belonging for all of us.
As I walk and walk and walk, and return home again and again and again, this same/different life feels more possible.
Ram Das wrote a book, "Be Here Now", about being present in your life, using spirituality, yoga, and meditation as ways to be engaged in the moment, not the past, nor the future as a means to live in peace. I am here to say, this stuff works!
My walks are simple, I breathe, step, breathe, step and somewhere, peace finds me up here in the hills.
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