Alexandria Griffith : American Camino

 In chapter five of the American Camino by Kip Redick the author talks about pilgrimages, and how they can be a religious journey for one. The author talks about how through walking one can learn more about themseleves, the world around them, and feel some holy presence. Hearing this I orignially did not think much of these statements. I was confused as to how walking can make someone learn more about themselves and feel a sense of religious presence. We walk everyday as humans so I was confused how walking even more on a path would allow for a sense of self growth and discovery. While I was backpacking this summer I found these statements to be presented true. I found that I did learn more about myself and the world around me. I learned that it is okay to be bored and that you need to be bored from time to time because it allows you time to think. And when one is thinking they can be learning, and for me during this I was learning more about myself. I learned that I value time alone and that I find it to be a healing thing. I found that in this day and age there are a lot of different ways to prevent us as humans from being bored, so stepping away from the typical life environment and emerging myself into the pathways of the AT I found I payed more attention to my surroundings.

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