The 15 Stories of Virtue from the Camino Santiago

My entire world and reason for existence came crashing down three years ago. I lost my mom. I lost my career. I lost my house. I lost my reputation. I lost my name. I lost my friends. I lost my financial security. I lost my privacy. I lost my connection. I lost my social and professional network. I lost my will to get up. In the year prior, I filed for divorce losing my partner of 25 years.

With so much loss, my three beautiful children stood solid and tall and gave me just enough of a lifeline to keep me moving forward and pressing on, regardless.

Since that beat down, I have rebuilt a healthier mind. A healthier neurology. A healthier purpose. A healthier view of work. A healthier friend and family circle. A healthier balance. A healthier home. A healthier relationship with myself.

The crash and dismantling of who is often referred to as Michelle, produced a true, phoenix-like rising of a new and stronger Dawn. There was only one big test left for this newer version of me and that was to put all of this healing to the test —a spiritual pilgrimage to the Santiago Compostela in Northern Spain.

Almost three years to the day of the crash, I set forth alone on my pilgrimage to Santiago, Spain from Porto Portugal. Over a period of three weeks, I was disconnected completely from our divisive and angry world, from work, and from other life demands. It was important to feel all of the Camino’s pilgrimage omens and energy -- both good and bad -- without interruption and without the influence of the world knowing or watching.?This pilgrimage was for me [and for Michelle]. It was to also honor those who lifted me [back] up and to carry [and release] the weight of all of the hurt leaders in America.

Knowing I wanted my mind to be silent and my soul to be immersed in joy, I informed my children, my immediate circle and work that I removed my email and social media apps and turned on the “do not disturb” status on my phone to prevent incoming text messages and calls. A lot of thought had been given to how home would be notified if I had experienced unanticipated harm, injury, or even death (while very rare, it does happen on the Camino). Before I left, I provided my children with a detailed itinerary of my pilgrimage and promised to send them an “I have arrived safely at the next stage” message through WhatsApp when and where WIFI was available. In addition to establishing a “just in case” communication channel before leaving, I also updated my will and trust and made sure all of my important documents were in order and locked away. Finally, as I departed to the airport, I stopped off at my neighborhood post office and mailed personalized, handwritten notes to a very small and select group of people who had provided me consistent support, shelter, love, faith, light and second chances over the last three years. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to speak my deep appreciation and truth to all of them in event it was the last time I had the chance to do so.

A few days before leaving for Portugal, I began reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. The book’s references to the main character’s pursuit of his treasure, Personal Legends, the Soul of the World, Beginner’s Luck, and magical stones spoke to me so much! ?I decided to take the book with me and use it as a guidepost for my pilgrimage. I also used the book for my nightly journal entries, jotting down emotions, discomforts, connections, joy and pain, and deep reflections along the edges of the pages and in between relevant paragraphs. In addition to the book, I recorded a lot of streams of consciousness directly to my phone, in real time, while walking the trail.

Since returning home, I’ve taken some quiet private time to process my journal entries, my extemporaneous and raw recorded notes on my phone, the omens that crossed my path, and the deep human connections made along the way. The feelings of pure joy were transcendent. But unfortunately, it isn’t real life. I am not going to lie. I’ve struggled returning home to an angry populate. Returning home to a culture that incentivizes and expects a work-first life. How do I insist on being fully present with myself, with family and friends, and with my new view of the world that is fully encompassing me while still engaging in my professional goals? I’ve concluded and now ready to share how these forces can co-exist and are not mutually exclusive.

15 Stories of Virtue from the Camino Santiago

Part of the purpose of a pilgrimage is to share your journey and express enlightenment with others. I have chosen to do so through what I am calling the "15 Stories of Virtue".? Virtues are?attitudes, dispositions, or character traits that enable us to be and to act in ways that develop our guiding principles for living. They enable us to pursue the ideals we have explored and adopted. Starting Wednesday, June 21, I will release a short story on each of the virtues below illustrating the healing, the omens, and the lessons from the Camino Santiago.

These Are My 15 Stories of Virtue ?

1.????Live the Questions!

2.????Watch the Horizon and Your Spoon

3.????Trust and Keep Walking

4.????Goals, Not Ambition

5.????You Have Enough

6.????Practice Reason, Not Judgement

7.????You Are Plenty

8.????Share

9.????Decline the Invitation

10.?Forgive and Keep Walking

11.?Close Chapters

12.?Choose Joy

13.?Slow Down and Be Still

14.?Release the Weight

15.?Ultreia!

About Dr. Dawn Emerick

There is nothing more powerful than learning from and sharing space with people with lived, learned and recovery experiences, self-awareness, and professional application. Dr. Dawn Emerick confronted her childhood and adult trauma after witnessing how her own unresolved trauma was affecting the way she engaged her children, family, friends, peers, co-workers and teams- especially when her childhood trauma was triggered daily by a bully boss. The combination of Dawn’s childhood and adult trauma, healing, astute self-awareness, her 30 years of non-profit and county/city government executive leadership experience and stories from the field, creates the ultimate learning, coaching and mentoring environment.

Dawn is a hurt leader, a?TEDx speaker, ?Mental Health First Aid instructor , a certified change management practitioner, and?podcaster . You can now add a?LinkedIn Learning Instructor ?to her portfolio. Visit?Dawn Emerick Consulting ?for more information on upcoming?trauma-informed leadership and workplace training.?