Day 22 – Basking & Circle of Risk

Walking to Astorga

So today I was basking.  I had a great sleep last night and woke up with low pain.  Even though the pain in my left heel did increase as the day continued, it was better than the day before.  The weather was sunny and not too hot and the countryside just keeps getting more beautiful.  Astorga is the end of the meseta and the beginning of the mountains of Leon and Galicia.  I learned that one way I bask is by being a little more extroverted and reaching out to people to make them smile.  It is approaching the day with positivity even with pain in my foot.  It’s looking at the beauty all around me.  Now that might be easier to do while walking on the Camino vs. spending a day in the office.  I get it.  We shall see how I do basking once I return to my normal life.  I think basking is tied to attitude though and not circumstances.

Okay, what is the circle of risk.  It is something I’ve always thought applies to each person and the size of one’s circle is directly linked to how willing a person is to take risks.  My circle of risk is very small around my being.  I don’t take many risks.  I would say taking this trip solo is the biggest risk I’ve taken in decades.  It came with a lot of thought, preparation and anxiety.  I don’t think I got excited about this trip until I was on day 3 and figured I might be able to do this.  I might be able to make it for weeks in a country where I can’t speak the language.  I might be able to walk this route since I survived the first day in the Pyrenees mountains.  I might be able to get past injuries if my left heel would just fall off.

I thought about this as I was walking the Camino route this afternoon.  The course changes several times across any given today.  This afternoon the route was running along the road.  A pilgrim was coming up behind me and he switched to walking the road instead of the trail.  We were on an incline so you could not see where the trail was going.  I was thinking, how does this guy know the trail is going to continue to run along the road.  What if it takes a sharp left turn away from the road.  This guy is going to have to jump a deep ditch to get back on the trail.  That is not a risk I am willing to take.  I’m just trying to walk for 15 miles never mind having to jump anything.  

We got to the top of the incline and now you could see the trail.  It continued along the road for at least another 1/2 mile.  Only after I saw that was I now willing to walk on the road.  The road is smoother so it’s easier on your feet.  I knew I wouldn’t have to jump across the ditch.  This is such a lame risk example but it demonstrated how I look at life.  Rather calculated, planned and kind of boring.  I have this belief that risk takers likely have more fun.  They do the exciting things.  They take chances and are rewarded for doing the risky move.   Even though I know all this in my head, I still take small, calculated risks.  Is this adventure across Spain expanding my circle of risk?  I guess only time will tell.  If it means I might come more out of my introverted shell and be more social, I would like that change.  And I know it’s all up to me.  I guess this is more possible now only because I am aware I would like to see this change.  That brings me to my friend Debbie from high school.  She does one new thing every month.  It doesn’t matter what it is and there is no other requirement.  I wondered if by doing one new thing a month, does it make it easier for her to get out of her comfort zone?

Pizza craving: satisfied

No new blisters

Traumatized toe: only 1 now; the other one lost it’s toe nail and is much more calm now

Tomorrow we start climbing the mountains on this side of the country.

We are under 300km from Santiago. I started at around 800km from Santiago!

Buen Camino