Thrive and gratitude are the two words or concepts I have mulled over during our long days of riding.
Each day I start out reflecting on my many blessings and all that I’m grateful for. And when I’m struggling to get up the endless hills, I work hard to return to this empowering frame of mind.
As I ride I say out loud for what I’m grateful for:
Each day I start out reflecting on my many blessings and all that I’m grateful for. And when I’m struggling to get up the endless hills, I work hard to return to this empowering frame of mind.
As I ride I say out loud for what I’m grateful for:
- Larry who always supports me and at the same time pushes me to see what I’m capable of
- My parents—who encouraged me to pursue my interests, opened the world of books and reading to me and brought me up in the Catholic Church which has given the trip context and meaning. Above all they loved me and believed in me
- My sisters, brother, nieces, nephew, sister-in-law,partners-in-law, spouses of my nieces and nephew and Larry’s family who are always with me
- Lila, Grey and Claire the new generation who I hope will live the traditions and values our parents taught us
- My friends who travel beside me
- The privilege of a good education and a meaningful career that have afforded me the ability of doing this trip.
We are now in Sarria, with only 100km to go. The last three days we filled with challenging riding, amazing scenery and impactful stops along the way. Just three more days and we will be at our journey’s end.
Yesterday we passed through O Cebreiro, the 2nd highest point on the Camino and location of a medieval church that was the site of a purported miracle. We were shrouded in fog, and this candle filled church helped me reflect on why we took on this pilgrimage. I found a Pilgrim’s prayer card there, the following is from it:
Although I may have travelled all the roads, and crossed mountains and valleys from east to west, if I have not discovered the freedom to be myself, I have arrived nowhere.
Although I may have shared all of my possessions with people of other languages and cultures, made friends with pilgrims of a thousand paths, or shared an Albergue with saints and princes, if I am not capable of forgiving my neighbour tomorrow, I have arrived nowhere.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey. I hope you had a peaceful and joy-filled Thanksgiving
