“Belorado often becomes the place where pilgrims remember something simple: to pause, without justification, is also a way of walking.”
The pleasure of getting lost
On the Camino, there are stages where the map is put away and the clock is forgotten. There’s no rush to arrive, no goals to meet. Only the rhythm of footsteps, the earth’s crunch under boots, the wind playing with the landscape. Walking without direction isn’t a mistake—it’s meditation in motion. When was the last time you allowed yourself to move without a clear destination?
Modern life has taught us to measure every minute by its utility. But there are spaces—like those moments dedicated to personal care—where time becomes circular, with no beginning or end. It’s not about “fixing” something or achieving a goal. It’s simply about being. A pilgrim’s massage isn’t meant to solve your stress; it can be an act of aimless walking in the physical world. The hot water of the jacuzzi needs no justification—it’s a gift that requires no explanation.
The pilgrim who leaves behind business to walk slowly discovers something deep: the pleasure of breathing without an agenda. This isn’t idleness—it’s rebellion against the tyranny of productivity. Because sometimes, the most productive thing is to pause and remember: your worth isn’t in what you do, but in who you are.
The Camino isn’t a straight line—and neither is life. What might you discover if, even for a moment, you allow yourself to walk without direction?
