I met an interesting character walking the Camino between Muxia and Lires on the way to Fisterra. The guy is offering refreshments to Peregrinos for a small donation in a makeshift tent.
He coined the term ‘Turbo-Grinos’ – those guys in such a hurry to reach their destination that they have no time to really enjoy the Path or to stop for a conversation.
They are up in the morning at 4 a.m hurrying to secure a place in the next Albergue or even worse – racing the Camino on a bicycle and you better jump fast to get out of their way.
One of my Taiji teachers once said: ‘If you’re in a hurry you are out of alignment and need to practise more.’
When you walk longer distances – 25 to 30 km a day with a back pack – you are forced to slow down. If you don’t you end up with sore knees and feet.
The Camino forces you to wind down to a natural walking rhythm. And, wow there is a world of chirping birds, crickets and rushing streams to be discovered. You just don’t know what you will found around the next bend.
Staying in the moment is perhaps the hardest practise in a world of distraction.
But as an old Zen Koan goes: ‘You have all the time in the world but no time to lose.’
Reino Gevers – coach, trainer, author
www.reinogevers.com
