One of the goals I have for the Camino is to learn to listen to my body more.  I certainly learned a bit about that today.

The tendon above my left heel began to ache, sharply, last night.  I took some Advil, slept well, and took some more Advil today.  I planned to walk 28 kilometers today, but instead I walked 20, mostly because the tendon above my right heel let me know that we should stop at Noon.

It´s funny because as I went up a steep ascent today my tendons were hurting, but then as we went down a steep descent my knees began to hurt.  However, each time, I just slowed down, thanked my tendons or knees for the work they do, and I promised them we would stop when needed.  After calming silly panic that something might cause me to forego the camino (or bus part of it) I relaxed into listening to my body, paying attention to what I felt.  I found the right pace and rhythm for walking, which is certainly different up or down a hill.  I realized that too often I don´t even feel what´s going on with my body because I´ve been concentrating on something else, usually accomplishment.

It was a valuable lesson and good to find the right pace, the right step, and the right balance of walking and resting.  It is slower than I thought, but it is what is right for my body and ultimately for my soul.  Plus, today I walked alone, which was refreshing and occassioned great reflection since we wound our way through rolling green hills chock full of knee-high grass fields, fields of white asparagus, and the first traces of grape vines.

Regardless of aches, pains, or ecstatic joys, every day I am thankful to be walking and on the Camino.  That is quite remarkable, especially since I´m getting up in the mornings at 6am!  :)