I was pulled to the Camino De Santiago, the 800-kilometer walking pilgrimage from the Pyrenees mountains in France to the town of Santiago De Compostela in Spain, the moment I’d first heard of it in 2011. A seventy-year-old French artist was making a presentation about his Camino pilgrimage in the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Arts in New York one night. His face lit up as he talked about the physical hardship of the journey, the hospitality of the churches who opened their doors to pilgrims each night, and the deep sense of community among travelers from all over the world walking for weeks on the same physical and spiritual path. I’m not religious in the conventional sense, but his energy filled up the room so much that I felt I was having a religious experience that day. My mother had recently passed away from cancer. I was feeling down and out. The unexpected talk gave me hope. I knew I would walk the Camino one day. Life came in the middle–jobs, startups, kids. But last month, more than a decade later, after I’d first planned to do it, I was fortunate to walk the full 800-kilometer pilgrimage solo, so I hope this blog can inspire some of you to make the journey as a pay-it-forward to the unknown gentleman who inspired me: Quick Background: What is the Camino De Santiago? From medieval times, Christian pilgrims have walked from their homes to the cathedral of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela as a pilgrimage, a penance, and a religious experience. Today, people walk for a variety of reasons, and based on the hundreds of pilgrims I met along the way; I’d split as follows: 40%: People-in-major-transitions– Folks changing careers, seeking meaning and revitalisation after retirement or divorce, or generally questioning the apparent meaninglessness of the birth-life-death cycle. 20%: Challenge Seekers– People seeking to challenge themselves by pushing the limits of how much they can walk and how much pain they can endure. 20%: Deepening Christian faith- A notable number of people I met were Catholics looking to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. 10%: Celebrating Relationships– Families, spouses, or friends walking together in small groups, enjoying the dedicated time together. 10% Camino Loyalists- People who fall in love with the picturesque Spanish countryside, the community of pilgrims, the health benefits of walking, and the time to reflect–and keep returning every few years.