Hola First name / pilgrim 👋

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Well what a week!

My life feels like a bit of a bloody rollercoaster 🎢 at the moment.

 

I always thought that menopause would kind of pass me by if I'm honest, but that isn't the case and it seems to be on a mission to kick my ass!

 

One of the things the Caminos have helped me with since I started is to learn to listen. Not just to what's around me, but also to my internal world…

 

My thoughts, my emotions, my feelings, my perceptions (most of which I used to think were feelings), my current state, what my body needs…

 

I can honestly say I wouldn't be “dealing with” this phase of my life so well (relatively) if was still oblivious to what my whole system was trying to tell me.

 

I get why they call it “the change” as everything is feeling so different and I can't just logic it out like I have with other things in the past.

 

SO I HAVE ASKED FOR HELP!

 

Yep, that's another thing the Camino has helped me to do and I have made many friends as a result

Here is an excerpt from my book that talks about this…

 

How to do it may seem easy to some (I’m pretty chatty – my fella would say that is an understatement) – just start a conversation. But that may be more difficult for others, especially if there is a language barrier – what a funny phrase that is and, upon reflection, I have found that not speaking the same language doesn’t have to be a barrier. Technology is there to help with words, but a smile, a thumbs up, a supportive touch on the arm, a hug. These things can speak a thousand words.

 

It is important to know when others want to be alone, too.

 

I tend to ask if someone wants a bit of company if we meet on the way rather than enforce myself on them. Or ask them if they wouldn’t mind accompanying me for a while as I am feeling lonely, a bit down, or I'm struggling. It is amazing how asking for help and showing that vulnerability can change how a relationship starts and continues and can help others to open up.

 

Trust the Camino to send you who you need and don’t be afraid to walk away from people who aren’t your vibe. Have a few phrases prepared – most people on the Camino tend to understand if you say you want some time alone to ponder.

Of course, once I asked for help I received all the messages I needed and was sent a wonderful human called Chitra who has just what I need.

 

I have enrolled on a year long course with her to find out all about Ayurveda and how I can handle the transition I am going through now.

 

Here is her website if you are interested too

 

BUT

 

How is this relevant to The Camino?

One impact is my energy levels and I am learning that for the first 2 weeks of my cycle they are much higher, and then they crash towards the end.

 

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT when I am planning my Caminos as I'm going to struggle to smash 40+km days, like I used to, in those last 2 weeks now.

 

I may be able to force myself and push through, but another thing this change is teaching me is to honour what is happening to me and how I feel and flow with it.

 

It feels really powerful to be able to make these choices 😊

 

❓How do you adapt to anything that affects your energy ❓

FREE 1-hour Workshop tomorrow. Find out more here…

Happy to say I have nearly finished translating my book into Spanish and my fella is having fun (?!?) checking through to make sure it makes sense.

 

Another way I have found to use AI and it's worked really well.

Check out this video on My YouTube channel about using AI in your Camino planning which might be useful. Feel free to follow me on there too, as I will be adding my videos from my Camino Vasco del Interior soon.

I'm still bouncing, too. Check out my socials to see more about the 23-day challenge I have joined to raise awareness of death by suicide. More about that next week.