Dear Kate - future Kate

This is a letter from past Kate. The girl who was sitting on the train making the journey from Paris to SJPDP.

The girl with all the trepidation and excitement to finally start the first Camino. So much planning, research and money had been spent on getting to this point. Formerly I would have said very careful and meticulous planning, but its no lie that the night in Paris I had last night had actually been booked for next year!

Hopefully, there haven't been many other mild early onset dementia moments like these over the past 33 days.

So, how do you feel? Past Kate asks future Kate. Do you feel;
- a sense of great achievement
- clarity and peace of mind
- like you met a really varied bunch of people
- how is the lower back and those back mice?
- like you've grown in emotional maturity.

Going in to this Camino, you had fears that you wouldn't complete the walk and make it to Santiago walking the entire way - how did you go? What are you doing right now, and looking back over the last 33 days - what have you been doing for each of those days? Were there times when you had to change plans - and how do you now feel about those things not going to your original plan?

Did those limiting beliefs get into your head and talk you out of it- convince you this wasn't worthwhile or worth all the effort?

How about your levels of tolerance for things out of your control. Smells, noises, getting food in your belly when those hunger pains were felt and getting enough sleep. Have you reconciled with yourself that those things don't rule your mood and sentiments in the moment.

Have I grown and evolved into a person who i am unashamed to be. Am I comfortable with the person I present as to others, what I say and how I make others feel. Do I feel like a better version than past Kate.

Have you left behind that floater version of past Kate? The one without passion. Did you find drive and purpose, and what motivates future Kate now? Life's calling and purpose is now clearer - with a known aim and direction.

Above all you should feel absolutely no disappointment, shame or sadness about how things have played out since the time you were writing this on the train to SJPDP. Each day unfolded exactly how it was meant to and each decision made in the moment was made with pure intention, good heartedness and of the wisdom you possessed at that time.

Well done, you. You did it!!!!

Past Kate is so freaking proud of present Kate.