Out on a Limb
“Why not go out on a limb? Isn’t that where the fruit is?” —Frank Scully Tell me about a time you went out on a limb and what you found there.
What’s in Front of Me
“I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention.” —Diane Sawyer Write about what is in front of you right now. Choose something ordinary that you see every day. Observe it so closely that you find something new to say about it. Write your way into the
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A Moment of Surrender
“There is no controlling life. Try corralling a lightning bolt, containing a tornado. Dam a stream and it will create a new channel. Resist, and the tide will sweep you off your feet. Allow, and grace will carry you to higher ground. The only safety lies in letting it all in—the wild and the weak; fear,
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Some Final Words and Images from Laura: Buen Camino!
Monday, September 21st Tomorrow morning, I fly home to California. I’ve had a delightful time writing this Virtual Vacation blog for you: sharing my adventures and misadventures, my week exploring Berlin, traveling independently, and my group sojourn on the Camino de Santiago with a wonderful crew of fellow travelers. I hope you have enjoyed the
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To Tattoo or Not to Tattoo?
Sunday, September 20th On my first Creative Camino trip in 2023, Covid cut my walk to Santiago short. In Ribadiso, three days before the end of our pilgrimage, two members of our group tested positive for Covid, and the next day, I joined them. How I hated seeing those two parallel lines come up on
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Leaving Our Burdens at the Mount of Joy and Walking into Santiago
Early this morning we got ready to walk the final eight kilometers into Santiago. When I pulled my luggage out to the street for our bus to pick it up, it was still dark outside. As I stood out in the cool early morning air, some pilgrims walking by in the first light of morning.
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We’re Just Eight Kilometers from Santiago!
Friday, September 18th I just woke from an afternoon nap and took a very hot delicious shower in my lodgings. Today was a short day for us—an eight mile hike in which I often felt I could have kept walking forever. I walked with various members of our group, in deep conversation and in silence;
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Our Very Long Day Hiking, Cops on the Camino, and a Bridge to Hold Our Prayers
Thursday, September 17th Today we left a relaxing two-night stop in Ribadiso, where we took advantage of laundry facilities and a luscious swimming pool. Today we were back at it—about to walk our longest day on the Camino—about 15 miles. Before we hike each morning, we limber up and stretch for the day’s walking. People
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What Makes the Our “Creative Camino” Special?
Wednesday, September 16th Today was our last full creativity and rest day. From here on out, we’ll be walking every day until we reach Santiago de Compostela. So I thought today I’d take the opportunity to give you an inside peek at our group at work and play. We’ve reached the point where people are
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Crossing the River
Tuesday, September 15th I just came back from an evening walk after dinner with Brenda, scouting out a location for tomorrow’s writing and art classes. We’re staying in our current lodging in Ribadiso for next two nights. Tomorrow will be another creativity day for us. As we walked through farmlands in the golden hour, the
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A Beautiful Problem
“When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.” —R. Buckminster Fuller Tell me about a problem you had to solve, one that had an elegant or
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The Work of Transformation and a Silent Walk in the Dark
Monday, September 14th Yesterday was a rest and creativity day for us. When I considered what to teach in writing class, I sensed that we were at the point in the retreat where people were ready to go deeper. So I chose a prompt that would help to catalyze the inner work of letting go
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Everything You Need to Know About Peeing and Pooping on a Multi-Day Hike
Sunday, September 13th When I led my first international tour in Bali fifteen years ago, Surya Made and Judy Slattum, our on-the-ground organizers and guides, schooled me on the basics of leading a tour. They let me know that the first and most important thing you have to pay attention to is feeding people before
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Ancient Ruins, Cows, the Gift of a New Name and a Long Day Walking on the Camino
Saturday, September 12th Before we leave Portomarin for a report on the mileage we walked on the Camino today, I want to share a few last photos of this wonderful town. This was typical of the sidewalks we saw: And I loved this mural of a pilgrim. He looks like an old-fashioned fellow, but the
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The Things We Carry Redux
Friday, September 11th Today we had a day for writing, art, laundry, shopping for needed items, and dinner on our own. For our morning writing session, I led a class based on Tim O’Brien’s classic Vietnam novel, “The Things They Carried.” The object of the class was threefold: to learn how powerful objects can be
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