Comfort in the uncomfortable.
I have always loved change. I constantly rearranged my bedroom as a kid. In my professional life, I was always looking for my next promotion, role, or exciting opportunity. I rarely repeated outfits. I think it has something to do with feeling slightly uncomfortable. It pushes me out of my comfort zone and brings an excited feeling of newness.
When I got back to the states earlier this year, I was overwhelmed with different emotions. Excited to be back and see my family and friends. Thrilled to be sleeping in a room all to myself. Sad to end the trip of a lifetime. Anxious about what was next. My biggest revelation was that I could not slide back into my old life. I had to make a change.
I quickly sold almost everything I owned and moved out of my Seattle apartment. I knew my time there had come to an end. I moved in with some of my closest friends and began to put together a plan to somehow continue this free and nomadic lifestyle. I made significant sacrifices, particularly financially, to bring this idea to life. With the right connections, I landed a job teaching yoga at two local studios. Speaking of being uncomfortable, making that transition from student to teacher is scary and nerve wracking. After my initial classes, I found my rhythm. Crafting the perfect playlist, adjusting sequences to suit all skill levels, and using clear, accessible language are essential to leading a great yoga session. I logged 50 hours of teaching and feel more at home in front of yogis than I ever thought possible.
At the start of the summer, I took a leap of faith and launched The Career Essentials LLC, a recruitment consulting business. Since then, I’ve worked with dozens of clients across various industries, helping them refine their resumes and secure job interviews. While I won’t be returning to corporate America, I’m thankful for the skills and experience I’ve gained and am excited to use them to help others advance in their careers.
Comfort in familiarity.
In the beginning of June, I moved back in with my mother in Michigan. I never thought those words would come out of my mouth, but the reality of my situation has certainly humbled me. I traded in my beautiful apartment, disposable income, and much more to continue this journey of exploration. It has been over 19 years since I have had a Michigan zip code but spending the last two months here has been better than I expected.
Surprisingly, I got along great with my two roommates, my gracious mother and older brother. My brother and I watched a lot of terrible reality TV and took walks while discussing the disaster of the current political scene. My mother and I ate scrumptious salads and spent hours sifting through the aisles of thrift stores. My dad and his partner tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony with all their closest family and friends. I am their biggest ally and was thrilled to be a part of their special day. My three nephews are growing up so quickly. We spent hours playing sports, competing in board games (which I usually won), and hunting for frogs. They might drive me crazy at times, but their sweet faces make it impossible not to love them. We celebrated big for my sister’s 40th birthday with a great group of ladies. My brother-in-law took me fishing for the first time (I still don’t understand the allure of the sport). I spent some much-needed solitude at their cottage in northern Michigan, I walked around my hometown with my best friend of 30 years, and I made a quick trip to Chicago to catch up with old friends.
When I’m not spending time with family, I’m usually doing puzzles, practicing yoga, or diving into a good novel. Lately, I’ve also taken up walking—A LOT of walking. I started with 6 miles a day and gradually worked up to 15, sometimes walking for up to 5 hours a day. You might be wondering, ‘Why on earth?’ Let me explain.
Lightening my load.
I learned about the Camino de Santiago early last year when I met a Canadian traveler in the Galapagos Islands who was on her way to start the walk. The Camino de Santiago, or the “Way of St. James” in English, is a pilgrimage route in western Europe that has existed for over 1,000 years. The route’s origins date back to the 9th century when the remains of St. James the Apostle were discovered in Northern Spain, which led to the construction of a religious shrine. The route ends at the tomb of St. James the Greater in the crypt of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, Spain. Today, there are paths coming from all over Europe. Hundreds of thousands of walkers, or pilgrims as they are called, complete the Camino each year for a variety of reasons. Some journeyers may be grieving a loss, going through a difficult time, looking for clarity, completing the trail for religious reasons, or strictly wanting to accomplish a physical and mental challenge.
My reasons are not so profound. From the moment I heard about this walk, I felt an irresistible urge to experience it for myself. The more people I met, the more I learned about it. Hearing the amazing stories from backpackers who had already made the journey confirmed everything for me. I’m looking forward to gaining deeper self-awareness, pushing through the physical challenges (arthritis included), enhancing my daily meditation practice, and connecting with adventurous, like-minded individuals.
For my 500-mile, 6-week trek across Spain, everything I need will be carried on my back. It’s advised to keep the load under 10 pounds in a 30-liter pack—a challenge, no doubt. But when you’re walking that much every day, less truly is more. I am bringing two hiking outfits, pajamas, toiletries, two hiking shoes, sandals, sheet liner and towel, journal, and all things medical related to feet and pain. Good news though, there is a porter service – the local taxi and mail services – that will take your bag from one town to another for a small fee of 7 Euros. A great option if your back or shoulders need a reprise during the longer days. I plan to walk about 15 miles a day, give or take, with a few rest days in between. The beauty of it is that I don’t have an end date, I don’t have to rush, I am not going with a group that I need to keep up with, and I can take things at my own pace.
The Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela marks the end of the Camino Frances, the most popular and well-established route I’ll be following. However, many pilgrims choose to extend their journey to the Atlantic coast, completing the Camino de Fisterra, adding another 100 miles. Depending on how I’m feeling, I plan to keep going. We’ll see how it goes—wish me luck!
Adios amigos.
Saying goodbye in Seattle was incredibly difficult. I found myself crying more than I’d like to admit, reflecting on the wonderful times and the kind people I had the privilege of meeting. The deep, lasting relationships I formed there are something I will always treasure. Now, it’s time to say farewell to my people in Michigan.
The key difference is that Michigan will always be my home base. My family has been incredibly supportive, and it’s comforting to know I’ll always have a place to return to if needed. This summer flew by, and I’m thankful for all the new memories we created.
Over the past year, I’ve been teaching my nephews various Spanish phrases. While they often forget the words, one they always remember is ‘adios amigos.’ In hindsight, I should have taught them ‘hasta luego,’ because this isn’t goodbye—it’s just ‘see you later’.
The jen essentials for a michigan summer.
- Quality time with my family (no explanation needed)
- Married at first sight TV show (brother and my chosen evening entertainment)
- My dad and Don’s Hyundai Sante Fe (thanks for letting me use it all summer!)
- Groceries and salad fixings (the way to my heart is through my stomach – gracias mama!)
- Scot’s delicious cooking (and even more delicious cocktails)
- Emmy’s company (many happy hours, Dan and Shay concert, and walks with Rocky)
- The stones my nephews sold me for 25 cents apiece (a tradition on the Camino is to leave stones along the way in honor of loved ones)
- A pair of good walking shoes (tested and tried for optimal performance)
- A new passport (with ample pages for countless stamps)
- Camino preparation and research (thank goodness for endless blogs from pilgrims, the Martin Sheen movie called “The Way”, engaging podcasts, books on tape, and new playlists to get me through hours of walking)
Wrap it up jen.
I’ve been feeling anxious these past two weeks, and for good reason. Even though I’m a seasoned backpacker, this trip feels different. I have no official end date. After I finish the Camino de Santiago, I will stay in Spain until my EU visa expires. My mother is planning to meet me in Madrid and continue to explore the beautiful country with me. After that, I am headed to South America, starting in Montevideo, Uruguay. I will spend more time in each country I visit, hopefully teaching yoga along the way and finding a place that feels like a home away from home.
These are the things I know: my first destination is Spain, my feet will hurt, my bag is packed, and I am excited and nervous at the same time. These are the things I do not know: how long I will be gone, how many toenails I will lose, if I have everything I need, and how this adventure will impact my life.
Don’t worry, I will continue to write blogs and share highlights on this trip…but you will have to wait until October. I will also be taking a break with the Career Essentials to fully immerse in this experience (I am not taking my laptop on the trek). Rest assured there is Wi-Fi along the Camino so please do not hesitate to reach out and check in. I appreciate those of you who read my past blogs and kept in touch me along the way, so please continue to do so! And lastly, the biggest shout out goes to my family. Thank you for EVERYTHING this summer. You make it hard to leave. But alas, here we go…AGAIN.
Signing off for now,
Jennifer