The story conveys a profound message about the journey of self-discovery and the importance of the experiences we go through in life. My story is shared as well.
In the book, the main character Santiago moves towards a long and difficult journey that helps him discover his own inner treasure and the meaning of life. The journey tests his strength, courage and confidence and changes his perspective on the world. The character realises at the end of the book, that the road to achieving the initial goal was as important as the goal itself.
The book also mentions Santiago de Compostela, an important city for pilgrims traveling on Camino de Santiago (pilgrimage route).
Since childhood, for reasons I could not fully understand at the time, I often felt that I did not belong where I had been placed in the world. At times, I tried to escape it. As a result, I developed a deep belief that our goals are not always reached on the first attempt, that life's experiences and challenges shape our path, and that setbacks do not define our future. Sometimes tragic events can become opportunities for growth, strength and reflection. And that’s what I tried to always do. Through it all, I have remained convinced that we each have the power to influence our own destiny to a certain extent, find meaning in our struggles and continue moving towards the life we wish to create. Looking back, I believe I have managed to do that for myself.
In May 2022, I walked the Camino Francés 713 km (~445 miles) across Spain in just 3 weeks. What began as a physical challenge became something far deeper.
Only walking day after day, with no distractions, I experienced the full range of human emotions. I learned to slow down, to tolerate physical pain, to stop my negative thoughts and to simply be rather than constantly do. I let go of expectations and began to accept whatever came my way with trust in myself and my surroundings.
In April 2023, I returned to the Camino because I needed the courage to leave my previous career behind and take a brave step into a new chapter of my life. This time, I walked the Camino Portuguese. With each step, the journey became even more profound. The silence, the rhythm of nature and the space for reflection created a powerful process of self-discovery.
A few weeks later, my father, with whom I had an inexistent relationship, was diagnosed with cancer and passed away the day after my birthday. I knew that the only way I could truly grieve his loss was by walking again. I decided to return to the Camino, this time walking the 100 km(#62miles) in 7 days the route from Santiago to Finisterre, often referred to as 'the end of the world'.

That same year, my life changed dramatically. Everything I believed would last forever seemed to disappear, and I found myself having to rebuild myself from the ground up. I can honestly say that what saved me was walking. It taught me to rely on myself when I believed I couldn't, to keep moving forward when life felt overwhelming, and to find strength in places I never knew existed within me.
These walking experiences revealed something essential for me and I am curious what might reveal about yourself if you reflect about it whilst walking.