Walking the Camino

I am sat in the train station in Paris, after my flight was cancelled yesterday and I ended up with a layover in Spain (more of that later) I have a beat up toe, VERY aching muscles and a heart full of love.

When I sat in Chicago at the conference and talked with friend’s about She Recovers, of how little monthly donations the Foundation gets, I never could have imagined that an idea could spark something which gave so much. With my friends I talked about how in the UK, we often do sponsored walks, or marathons as fundraisers, my friend said they’d always wanted to do the pilgrimage Camino de Santiago walk in Spain… I remembered I followed someone I liked on social media who organised sober travel, and she spoke Spanish - so I excitedly asked Dawn Nickel if she would mind if I organised a fundraiser she said she didn’t and so well I did…

Never in a million years would I have thought we would raise over $16,000 (my target was $5K), never would I have thought that there is so much magic in side by side conversations with women, that we are stronger more resilient and kinder than we think we are.

That despite pain, blisters, walking one day 26km in constant rain, walking before the sun came up, surviving on bad coffee (or tea for me!) we would still find laughter and friendship. That despite one of our team being incredibly poorly, with a trip to hospital and our team taking turns to make sure she got from one hotel room to the next until she got strong to walk some of the way, we would make it work. That two of us would taxi forward a stage to take care of her, then taxi back and walk just the two of us, because doing the walk mattered. That we could walk over 72 miles in 6 days.

There was 14 of us. We ranged in age from 62 - 39, from Canada, USA, England, N.Ireland.

We made it, just as in our recovery one day at a time (and one step at a time … who knew there were SO many hills in Galicia 😬)

We had two women with Fibromyalgia (me one), multiple cancer survivors, multiple old, reoccurring and current injuries, we got through it and as should be all had a good cry at the end!

I love this description of a Pilgrimage

Using the word God/Divine/Nature/Universe or something that works for you ✨

A pilgrimage is a spiritual journey that involves walking toward a sacred place to draw closer to ✨✨✨. It is both an outward and inward journey, marking a time for prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal. In essence, it is a return to the source, providing the strength and energy needed for daily life.

I couldn’t have done it without Lauren Burnison of We Love Lucid - Alcohol Free Travel and our amazing guide Monia. We formed such a strong, compassionate collaborative team, I couldn’t have asked for more. Please act on those ideas you have to support things you care about . It doesn’t have to be something big. Every $ counts.

I asked the group some reflection questions when we left, these are my learnings:

🦶What are you leaving behind on the Camino?

I am leaving behind the mindset that my body is broken, that I can’t do anything with Fibro. I have evidence that this isn’t true as long as I pace and take care of myself.

🥾What have you learned that you’re taking with you?

That I am at my most silly, authentic, happy self around women in recovery and I need boosts of that regularly to support my recovery, to feel grounded and alive.

❤️‍🩹How has this trip strengthened/changed your recovery?

That the more I listen the more full I feel, be that to nature, my HP or other women.

🤗How has this trip strengthened/changed how you view yourself?

I have been made to feel like a bad person in the past few years, and it was very confusing, but that was someone else’s hurt talking and I don’t need to carry that. I am not perfect and I am allowed to make mistakes, I am also willing to say sorry, do the work and try to do my best. I have a good heart and I know now that’s true. This is a moment I can carry with me, which I can hold close when I doubt myself, of which I created something from the purest place of my heart and that makes me feel proud, it’s ok to be proud of myself.

I have had this ongoing battle for awhile of where I need to move next, had this internal earworm about Barcelona, though I feel conflicted. Yes to the sea, the international community - but does my soul really thrive in the city? Lauren made a good point by saying, you need to go where your nervous system feels most settled.

My flight to Paris via Barcelona yesterday was cancelled due to bad weather, so the airline organised a hotel for me. I got in a taxi with 3 none English speakers and ended up by the sea.

Felt like some spiritual intervention. You don’t need the city, you need the sea…

Hmmm where do I get sea that blue in France? I have to let go and just let it happen. Use the learning from this walk. It’s not the destination but the journey, I really witnessed that in action, as it made everything much more enjoyable when I slowed down, rested, and walked little by little.

Thank you to each and every women who joined and everyone who donated.

We are stronger together

Love Mandy xx