In the spring of 2025, I walked a portion of the Camino de Santiago.
The Camino is a pilgrimage with routes across France, Spain and Portugal – with the ultimate destination of the cathedral in Santiago, Spain.
I was going to be in Portugal for a work retreat with my coach, when I learned that there’s a route that goes up the Portuguese coast.
I’d always wanted to walk the Camino, and I decided to stay an extra week and walk from Portugal into Spain. I didn’t plan to make it all the way to Santiago, but I was excited to walk into a new country.
It had been a hard couple of years. My 23 year marriage ended, my kids both went to college and I was struggling with creating my life anew.
My First Night on the Camino, This Happened…
I walked 12 miles my first day! I was tired but happy and feeling accomplished when I arrived at a lovely guesthouse run by a woman named Ana.
Over breakfast, I shared my plan to end my Camino journey in Southern Spain, just across the border from Portugal.
Without hesitation, Ana replied, “You should go to Santiago. Even if you have to take a bus or a train part of the way. It’s so beautiful!”
Should I go all the way to Santiago?
I began considering it.
Everyone else I met on the trail was going to Santiago. That’s the whole idea behind a Camino pilgrimage, right? It’s the destination. It’s what you’re supposed to do.
When “Should” Isn’t the Right Answer
I already had my plane ticket booked, and work calls scheduled for the following week. But still, I found myself wondering:
“Maybe I’ll extend my stay and make it all the way to Santiago.”
As I walked, my head filled with questions. “Could I work from the road?” Technically, yes, I had my laptop. But did I want to?
My kids are fine in college, the dog is cared for, and the plants are being watered. I kept asking myself, “Why not stay longer?”
One of my big intentions for this trip was to listen, not to the expectations of others, but to the truth of my own heart. This gave me meaty food for thought.
Every Day Was a Decision, Just Like Life
Each day on the trail held small and powerful choices:
- How far was I going to walk?
- Where would I stay that night?
- Could I stay present and not judge myself for not doing more?
These Camino decisions mirrored the deeper ones I struggle with every day, how to shift my mind from focusing on…
- Feeling behind
- Wondering if I’ve made the right decisions
- Not feeling “successful” enough
I didn’t realize it at the time, but each decision helped me prepare.
A Conversation That Changed My Path
It wasn’t until I reached Spain that the real decision came into focus.
I met two Scottish women who said that they had come back to finish the Camino after beginning it the year before.
Back in my room, I sat with that. I journaled, meditated, and asked myself, “What should I do?”
I wanted to go to Santiago. I really did. But doing so meant extending my trip by two full weeks. I hadn’t budgeted for it, and I didn’t want to worry about Wi-Fi or racing to a guest house just to make a Zoom call. I had obligations to my clients, and myself.
In a deep meditation, I had a vision—the trail ahead of me extended and was swept clean. It showed a path for connections with friends and family. And I heard this inner truth:
The journey continues in new ways. You’re not done.
I decided to return home as planned. No fear. No regret. Just clarity.
When You Don’t Follow the Crowd
On my last morning in Spain, I took a quiet walk and gazed up the coastline. The light, the sea, the trail, it all whispered to me:
“This is a beginning.”
I’m so glad Ana encouraged me to go to Santiago. But it just wasn’t right for me. Not now.
And I’m thrilled that I began—that I walked over 74 miles, in 7 days, just for myself.
Are You Walking a Path That No Longer Fits?
It’s so easy to get swept up in what other people think we “should” do, whether it’s walking to Santiago or staying in a career that doesn’t suit you anymore.
Leaving law can feel scary. There’s a fear of judgment from colleagues, family, and yourself.
You might be hearing your imagination of people’s voices louder than your own.
Here’s the truth: it’s your path. YOUR life.
So I’ll ask you:
- How have other people’s “shoulds” affected you?
- Is someone else’s voice taking up space in your head?
- Are you ready to start leaving law, your firm or exploring what that might mean?
Ready to Begin Your Own Camino?
If you’re thinking about leaving law, or are simply unsure what’s next, you don’t have to walk it alone.
Would you like help discerning what’s true and real for you, without shame or self-judgment?
If so, I’d love to meet you and see if you’d like to walk this next part of your journey together.
👉 Let’s talk.
