Casey Estep: My Journey

This class has made me think a lot about Journeys (obviously). Specifically the journeys that I've taken in my life. I believe that there are two major ways to look at people's journeys. First, the journey of their lives. Peoples entire life can be viewed as a journey. The battle of attrition that we call life is very much a journey, a movement from who we were yesterday to who we will be tomorrow. I feel that physical journeys are a necessary component to the journey of our lives. I must admit that I have not embarked on many journeys in my life, although I would like to. I have done many day hikes and I have traveled to China, but I feel that these are less of journeys and more of guided tours. I want to truly embark. This past summer my cousin Peter and I decided to take a two day hike on the AT from Bear's Den overlook to Harper's Ferry. This was the first backpacking trip that I had done and it beat the hell out of me. By the end I was exhausted, sweaty, angry, and my feet hurt, but I had done it. It was the first taste of a real journey that I had ever done, and I wanted more.

After taking this class, I have decided that I want to walk the Camino. It might kill me, but I feel that I have distracted myself for long enough. I barely know how to operate when I'm truly left to my own devices with nothing to do. My hope is that if I walk the Camino I can take a long hard look inward and assess myself against the mirror of myself and the others I encounter along the trail.

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