Abbaye de Conques, on the way to Compostela, on a spring evening. In the large dining room, three walkers are seated at the end of the long oak table.
Yanneck is 20 years old. Frank is 60 years old. Jean Marie is 40 years old, he sits at the end of the table.
Jean Marie, a former walker, has been working at the abbey for a long time. He prepares the meals. He likes to eat with the pilgrims, like tonight.
He says, turning to Yanneck:
- In the ten years that I have been here, I have seen walkers your age pass by, walking on this path for the first time. They all say the same thing: I walk to seek to know myself, to discover who I am and what I really want”.
Is this why you walk?
Yanneck confirms. Then Jean Marie turns to Franck: - I also saw a lot of older walkers like you. Do you know what they all say?
They all say the same thing: I walk to seek to know myself, to discover who I am and what I really want”! Yanneck and Franck look at each other, a little surprised. Then Jean Marie declares: - do you think it's the same question?
Well, there is a huge difference between the two!
🤨 Faced with the growing surprise of Yanneck and Franck, he adds:
- the huge difference between the two is that there is one who waited 40 years to start trying to get to know himself, to find out who he really is❗️
. . . . .
This story is a lived story. I was there. I let you guess in the role of which character 🙂. I have often shared it while walking with other people of all ages. I share with you here the thoughts that came up then, after listening to this story. May they make sense to you:
1️⃣ Self-discovery is a lifelong journey
2️⃣ The endpoint is very rarely accessible. It often takes more than one life to get close
3️⃣ The most important thing is to be on the way, rather than having reached the end point
4️⃣ “Who I am” evolves throughout my life as I go through life transitions
5️⃣ What is important is to know who I am now
6️⃣ Getting to know each other should be an ongoing activity, starting as early as possible. Do not wait to have more time, to be "burned-out", to be older...
7️⃣ No matter how old we are, the best time to start is now. If this story speaks to you, share in the comments other thoughts that it inspires you.