Making a pilgrimage has a special allure for those seeking spiritual health and physical well-being, and the 500 mile path along the northern tier of Spain known as the Camino de Santiago draws a global crowd of pilgrims. A new, detailed first-hand account of the trek entitled A Million Steps by Kurt Koontz sweeps readers along step-by-step through the daily discovery of friends, surroundings and insights into healthy living and thinking. Koontz tells his story with verve and evident emotion. I was glad to be at his side to experience the sights, smells, tastes and sounds of life on the trail as well as the warm encounters with his fellow pilgrims and their Spanish hosts. His rendering of the 28 days on the Camino fulfills the pilgrims’ adage that “the first third of the trip is for the body, the second third for the mind, and the last third for the soul.” Indeed, his enlightenment resonated deeply with me: “Be open to the signs, listen to your heart and act on the message. If you are in the wrong job, the wrong relationship, the wrong country, there is probably a big neon sign begging you for a change. Listen and change.” The lesson? Real fulfillment awaits those who greet every day as a gift bringing the opportunity to learn, adjust and keep true to our paradoxical nature as restless seekers deeply connected to each other.
