Sunday, April 19, 2009

Mio el Camino de Santiago de Compostela - A Year After...

It's been a year.

Last April 5th marked the day that it has been a year since I reached Santiago de Compostela after almost 3 weeks on the road with my bicycle. I spent almost the whole day reminiscing the days I spent on the camino.

What has changed since then?

Nothing much. Except that I am no longer inclined to buy stuff I want but do not really need. After coming back from that pilgrimage, I realized I have so many stuff that are not exactly practical. Unworn new shoes that have now collected dust, still sealed DVDs of movies I've seen and thought of watching again but never did, extra coffee maker still in the box, shelves bought to put these unneeded stuff on, I even have some clothes kept in years with their tags still attached.

Slowly I am trying to get rid of these extra things in my life. Although it coincided, it's not because of the global recession this world is going through. Actually, this recession reconfirmed that I don't need much to live my life to the fullest. After all, I survived 3 weeks on my bicycle with only the basic necessities most of the time. I thought before that by having all the things you want around you, you would be happier and more free to do things around.

Now I think it's the opposite. It's by having less around you that you would be more free to move around and be happier. It's funny how a simple paradox is found in real life. It brings me to a little laugh.

It also brings me to a smile thinking that it was the start of the Holy Week when I began my pilgrimage last year and finished the journey on April 5. Now that a year has passed, the day that marked the end of my pilgrimage is now the start of the Holy Week.

Happy Easter everyone!
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