“How is it with you with pain?”

And I say: “What the hell, we are all in pain. We don’t talk about it, it’s part of the deal.” And everyone smiles. Everyone knows what is meant. An example? My legs are so stiff that more than 90 degrees are not possible when squatting. But as I said – it’s part of the deal. It has lost importance.

Walk, eat, sleep, repeat. This is the mantra of the pilgrims on the Camino. For me, on a total of 304 kilometers from Oviedo to Santiago via the Camino Primitivo – the path over the mountains that is the least frequented and therefore the loneliest and also the wildest. That’s why I voted for it.

The days blur. In the morning you leave the hostel, still in the semi-darkness, and know: Today it’s 20, 25, sometimes 30 kilometers again.

On the third day, the head switches off. You walk mechanically and only hear the clacking of your poles on the asphalt. Sometimes the sun is shining, sometimes fog envelops you, sometimes the rain patters down for hours. It’s just you, your backpack – and the way. And a few fellow hikers like Andrea.

My biggest challenge was not walking or the pain, but the monotony. The Camino is not an adventure. Everything is perfectly signposted and organized. There are vending machines for water and snacks on the side of the road, so there’s really nothing left for you to take care of yourself.

You just have to walk. Enduring this monotony day after day. A lot on asphalt side roads, through sparsely populated or equally dilapidated villages, at night you slumber in bunk beds with smelly socks – all this makes you numb and empty. There is really nothing that challenges or distracts you mentally.

Then comes the highlight: the Hospitales route, 1,200 meters high, finally shows impassability, breathtaking nature, the loneliness of the mountains and the harshness of the elements. There are no vending machines up here, you have to carry everything yourself, there is little reception, so you are really on your own. The wind almost blows you over, it’s cold, the rain whips you in the face from the side and visibility is barely twenty meters.

But for me, for all of us, this very day is finally the moment when we feel like real pilgrims. That’s how it was centuries ago. Rough nature, no vending machines, no way out, deep humility, awe, trust. This purifies and gives an incredible feeling of strength. Anyone who manages the hospitals in the rain remembers deep down who he is and what he can do.

This exhilaration of the Hospitales crossing is topped by seven Italians who spoil us with pasta “à la Mamma” in the evening. They don’t know each other, but join forces to cook for us other twenty pelegrinos. A real Camino experience, so endearing and connecting – and one of the reasons why people love the Camino so much.

Or my Frenchman. He started in Geneva, over 2,000 kilometers in four months lie behind him. I have never met a more silent, humble and balanced person. He didn’t tell me what his reason was for setting off. But in Santiago he falls to his knees. I so feel for him.

And then I’m on the square in front of the cathedral myself. It’s quiet, no fanfare, no music. I think that’s wonderful, because it allows everyone to celebrate their arrival in their own way. Hundreds of tired and sweaty pilgrims from all over the world arrive there every day; from morning to evening there is activity on the square. Some cry, others sing, many lie in each other’s arms, pray, a couple kisses deeply. We greet each other with a smile, knowing without knowing each other. What unites us all is the fact that we have faced it and we have made it. Inside and out. This place belongs to us. We all come from somewhere, pause here for a while – and then go our ways again. And everyone has hundreds of stories to tell when they get home.

Personally, I take away three very different and fulfilling experiences: On the endless stages over asphalt and through the villages, I felt: We convey peace. Anyone who walks here does it with good intentions. That was a truly beautiful feeling. I found my true self again up there on the harsh Hospitalesroute. And on the square in front of the cathedral, I had the feeling that finishing the camino is a bond that unites us. Forever.

PS: Here comes a THANK YOU VIDEO for everyone who supported me! You were great!

The post “Peeing in a downhill squat” – Impressions of the Camino Primitivo first appeared on Conny Schumacher.

The challenges are inhumane – for people and material: waves as high as skyscrapers, gusts of wind with 50 knots, freezing cold and loneliness, material fatigue, permanent sleep deprivation, constant risks … Anyone who asks himself something like this is a professional through and through. Physically, mentally and emotionally.

But even with 100% commitment, it can happen that dreams are shattered. Skipper Louis Burton had to learn that. After a serious material breakage, he had to stop the race and sail his racing yacht back to Cape Town. I followed his decision via an Instagram video – a decision that was incredibly difficult, but courageous and right.

Yesterday I was there when he arrived in Cape Town out of respect and respect. It was incredibly touching. His family, we fans, the children – everyone welcomed him with hand-painted signs, shouts of “Bravo” and open arms. The disappointment was palpable, but you could still feel something deeper: humility, pride, love – and unbroken passion.

I had tears in my eyes because I was able to empathize so well with the soul of an athlete who gave everything for his dream. And then it doesn’t go the way we dream it would. It’s not just athletes who know this …

Real professionals do the following:

They go through the deep valley of emotions and disappointment. They have a support team and know that they are never alone – no matter what they decide. They ask themselves: Is the longing still big enough? If the answer is yes , they shake themselves, get up, straighten their backs – and move on. They try again and again and give it their all. Because every setback makes us stronger. We are growing. We learn that we can’t control everything. And yes: We should be proud of what we have already achieved – because without pride, success simply does not work.

Louis Burton inspired me deeply. He looked abysmally exhausted, so approachable and human. But his disappointment quickly gave way to a smile when he was able to embrace his proud family. People who love you and believe in you are simply everything in life.

So: Even if dreams burst – keep going! 🚀 It’s soooo worth it. coaching, sparring partner, #success, #passion, #courage, #dreams

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as every year, a few weeks before Christmas, I take the time to review the past year. I look back, think about what worked well, and learn from what may not have gone as planned. I appreciate this end-of-year ritual not only very much myself, but also many of my clients.

Especially after a challenging year, in which we may not have achieved all our goals, this reflection helps us to focus on the many small, often overlooked successes. All too often, we fixate on the big picture and overlook the steps that got us there. But it is precisely these steps that show us what we have really achieved. When we look back like this, we can end the year with satisfaction – and enjoy the holidays much more relaxed. The “mental homework” is done, and you can let go of the year in peace. The readjustment can confidently wait until January.

If you want to take up my idea with the end-of-year ritual, take a little time and focus on these questions:

• What three things I’ve achieved this year make me particularly proud?
• What have I done or changed specifically to make these successes possible?
• What changes has this brought to my life?

These questions put your focus on what works

I know many of us didn’t achieve all of our goals this year. It was a year full of challenges, uncertainties and obstacles. I am also one of those who have not achieved their target goal. But you know what?

That doesn’t mean we’ve failed.

If we take a closer look, we realize how much we have actually moved and achieved. After all, we grow the most through the moments when we make mistakes, are challenged or seem to fail. And who knows? Maybe this year we planted the seeds and did the right things to reap the rewards next year.

Therefore, I would like to encourage you, especially when you feel stressed or dissatisfied: Take time to look deeper. What have you achieved, changed and achieved this year? Are there things that you don’t have on your radar at the moment, but that you can be really proud of?

And then: Please celebrate yourself extensively and enjoy this soothing feeling of pride and contentment with all your senses! This is exactly what end-of-year rituals and especially the festive season are for – to experience, enjoy and consciously celebrate contentment and inner peace! I wish you a lot of joy in realizing how great you are, and a relaxed, wonderful Advent season.

Kind regards,

Yours
Conny Schumacher

coaching, sparring partner , success, free acquaintance

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