11 Camino Lessons: What The Way Left With Me
Fourteen days. Two hundred miles walked. Lifelong clarity. Reflections from my walk across Spain on the Camino de Santiago.
As I’ve written previously, I had an incredible experience walking 315 kilometers (nearly 200 miles) over 14 days from León to Santiago de Compostela. I may have left the Camino behind in Spain… but in many ways, the Camino hasn’t left me.
There were small moments — physical, spiritual, and personal — that have stayed with me. Here are a few lasting lessons from The Way:
Gratitude for the Simple Things
We take for granted so many modern luxuries — especially clean water, hot showers, indoor plumbing, and the comfort of our own bed. By the end of each walking day, the moment I stepped into the shower became the highlight. I often thought: when Saint James walked this route, there were no showers. A thousand years later, when Saint Francis of Assisi walked it, there were still no showers. And yet they endured. We are spoiled — and we rarely recognize it.
The Power of Waking Up Early
On the Camino, waking early wasn’t just a choice — it was a necessity. The best pilgrims rise around 5 or 6 a.m. and start walking by 7. With just a few exceptions, I was almost always on the trail by 7 or 8 a.m. This rhythm was crucial.
It allowed me to avoid rising temperatures, arrive at my destination by mid-afternoon, leaving time to shower, rest, explore the town, eat well, take care of laundry or writing, and wind down. I’d go to bed early and wake up the next morning feeling refreshed and ready.
This discipline reminded me of a simple truth that applies far beyond the Camino:
Go to bed early. Wake up early. Do the hardest work at the start of the day. Then enjoy the peace that follows.
The early hours are quiet, clear, and focused. Whether you're walking across Spain or facing a busy day at home, there’s power in starting early.
You Can Live with Less
Everything I needed for 18 days fit in one backpack. Just a few shirts, shorts, undergarments, light layers, a rain jacket (never used), a sleeping bag (used twice), power bank, passport, pilgrim passport — and yes, even a dozen cigars and my MacBook Air. When you carry everything on your back, you quickly realize how little you actually need. And that simplicity is freeing.
The Camino Provides — Because God Provides
One of my favorite Bible passages is from Matthew 6:25–26:
“Do not worry about your life… Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap... yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?”
Other than my final two nights in Santiago de Compostela, I never pre-booked accommodations — and I always found a bed. I didn’t overpack food or water — and always found what I needed. Often, the “menu of the day” in the towns along the camino included a 3-course meal plus a drink for an average of 15 Euros. The Camino has a way of reminding you: God provides. Always.
Shared Humanity Above All
In two weeks, I met people from every continent except Antarctica. Despite differences in language, age, or background, we connected easily. Our conversations weren’t political or divisive — they were human: Where are you from? Why are you walking? How are your feet? Imagine if we brought that same compassion, presence, and curiosity into everyday life.
The Power of the Pause
The Camino forces a break from the noise of normal life. No emails. No packed calendar. No multitasking. Just walking — and thinking. In that silence, your mind softens. You are fully focused in the present moment. You begin to hear again — your own voice, God’s voice, the voice of clarity. There is power in the pause.
Your Body Is Capable of More Than You Think
I averaged over 32,000 steps a day, with a few days crossing 40,000. Blisters, soreness, fatigue — they were all there. And yet each morning, I woke up and walked again. After a week, my backpack didn’t feel like weight. It felt like part of me.
And maybe the craziest part of my story? I completed these 315km over 14 days exactly 10 months after I tore my Achilles — an injury that required surgery and two months of recovery at home. And yet I still was able to do this.
The body adapts. It endures. It surprises you.
Stay on the Right Path — by Following the Signs
At times, the route became confusing. Google Maps wasn’t always helpful. But the Camino was clearly marked — with yellow arrows, shells, signs. You just had to trust the signs. Life works the same way. Wisdom from those who’ve walked before us matters. When in doubt: follow the arrows.
Walk More. Think More. Listen More.
Each day I walked for five to six hours (not counting breaks). Most of the time, I left my AirPods off. I’d listen to one podcast or audiobook, say a rosary, then let my mind wander. Walking clears the head. It creates space. That space is sacred.
Nature Is God’s Country
I walked through vineyards, forests, wheat fields, hills, and mountains. The sunrises were divine. The skies full of movement. The countryside was where I felt most at peace. Cities have convenience. But nature offers stillness. And in that stillness, we remember that God is in nature — and God is nature. You feel His presence here more fully.
One Step at a Time
There’s an old saying: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
I didn’t walk a thousand miles, but I did walk 315 kilometers. And if I had thought about the full distance from the start, it would’ve felt overwhelming.
That’s why the Camino — like life — is broken down in stages. A few kilometers to the next village. Then a break. Then a few more. On days when my blisters were at their worst, I slowed down. I found my own pace. The only thing that mattered was taking one step forward — even if slowly.
It reminded me of a line I often use to close my Fearless Journeys emails: Keep Moving Forward.
That phrase echoed in my head many times across Spain. I started with one step in León. Fourteen days later, I stepped into the plaza in front of the Santiago Cathedral. It wasn’t easy. It was slow, sometimes painful. But I made it.
It’s not about distance. It’s about direction.
It’s not about speed. It’s about persistence.
Keep moving forward. One step at a time.
It’s time to Keep moving forward with Fearless Journeys. And it’s time for you to take that next step with me.
Next week we’ll be officially into Fearless Journeys 2.0. We’ve already had some current members of Fearless Journeys join and take part in their 90-day trial period. The response to the Chart My Course journal they received has been very positive.
Whether or not you have been an active member of Fearless Journeys in our first four years, now is the time to join Fearless Journeys 2.0.
The cost is just $500 per year. You can make that payment here.
Once we receive your payment, you’ll receive:
A personal email from me to set up your one-on-one orientation call with me. During that call we’ll asses where you’re at and where we can help take you along your journey of life.
I’ll rush you a complimentary copy of your Chart My Course journal, a useful tool in documenting your journey and assessing your action steps from month to month and week to week.
I’ll also send you a complimentary signed copy of one of my two books, for a little more inspiration from the many innovative guides who charted their own course.
And you’ll get the exclusive invitations about our upcoming group trips (our next one is a long weekend in Charleston, SC in mid-September) and exclusive invitations to our online group sessions with Featured Innovators and other members of the Fearless Journeys 2.0 community
PLEASE NOTE: We are no longer advertising any group trips to anyone outside of our Fearless Journeys 2.0 membership. If you want to know where and when we’re going and be able to join us, you’ll need to be a member of Fearless Journeys 2.0. While this community is not limited to travel, those experiences seem to be the most meaningful — especially when we journey together.
If you’re ready to take the next steps, I encourage you to apply for membership in our community. You can do that here.
Your next fearless adventure begins today. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you to keep moving forward!