Full disclosure

In reading my journal to get ready for this blog, 

there's a common element in the entries 

for the first 5 weeks 

that you should know about...

I cried every single day.

Every. Single. Day.

I knew I would be teary as I processed 35 years of working in Pediatrics;

I suspected family and grief issues would also rear their ugly heads -

and I was right on both counts.

For years, I'd likened myself to being a pain sponge

and I'd clearly reached the limit of what I could absorb.

Being wrung out, however, turned out to be a lengthy - 

and far messier - process than I'd envisioned.

Physically, there was also never a day when walking the Camino was easy for me.

There were parts of every day that were easier than others -

but it was NEVER easy for me.

My back, my knees, my hip and my feet all took turns being the locus of my pain.

While I will be writing about certain occasions
when my tears and pain seemed to be the primary focus of my day  -
just know that these times were NOT isolated events.

Some of us need bigger bottles than others!

I am not my wound, or my defense against my wound.

I am my journey

James Hollis