The Camino gave me confidence, strength and courage

Testimony of Therese

For several years, I wanted to go and walk alone on the Camino de Santiago. The Camino! My brothers before me had passed on the desire to me. What I knew was that "I like walking, I like nature, I like people, exchanges, sharing...". But there you go, it remained a real challenge for me, who had never left alone.

"If I succeed, I will know that I am capable of achieving anything, all by myself in my life"

In the very first months after my retirement, the call of the path was really felt, in a deep motivation to "prove to myself that I am capable, to organize everything and to walk at least 3 weeks, alone" ! François and Marc supported and reassured me, and I made my decision in November 2022: on April 5, 2023, I'm leaving!

This project carried me all winter. The organization was already the path. I said to myself "if I succeed, I will know that I am capable of achieving anything, all alone in my life". So, on April 5, 2023, in the early morning, I left Le Puy en Velay for 20 stages on the GR 65 to Cahors.

This journey was a real enchantment, a wonder of every moment, in connection with myself and with this nature that awakens in the month of April. I found my child's soul there. I felt in me like the sap rising in a plant.... I became alive again, something I had not been for several years.

Before this experience of the Camino, I felt like a flower that fades and dies. There on the path, I felt alive and vibrant again. Joy and gladness filled my heart every morning when I left. I let go, without thinking about tomorrow. All the fears evaporated little by little, I became lighter every day.

What wonderful encounters and wonderful exchanges, when for a few hours, I walked with one or other of the pilgrims I met.

This experience gave me the confidence, strength and courage that allowed me to make the decisions that were right and aligned for me.

This path allowed me to take stock of what I was living. I was no longer happy and I wanted to be happy again for the last part of my life. The Camino gave me the confidence, strength and courage that allowed me to make the decisions that were right and aligned for me.

Since then, I feel liberated, calm, authentic and true….

And here it is, in April 2024, just one year after my first departure, I left Cahors for about twenty more stages. I happily found again this feeling of enchantment, of wonder, of connection with myself, with nature and with the pilgrims I met. I felt even more letting go, calm, appeasement, detachment.

And I only have one desire, to leave again in April 2025!!!!

Thanks to the Camino for allowing me to become myself again! Therese