Hello lovelies. I wrote these letters to any stranger considering walking the Camino de Santiago, specifically the most popular route from St. Jean Pied du Port to Santiago.

I’ve walked those particular 500 miles at two very different times in my life, and I suspect I will do it one more time someday if I’m lucky. These are the messages I wished I’d had the first two times as well as a message to my future self when I’m thinking of giving up and going home.

While these originally lived in a book that didn’t find a publishing home, I’m happy they’ve made it off the page and into a place where someone can hopefully find them when they need them most.

Wishing your all a beautiful, blister-free Camino.

Here are the letters in order, if you feel so inclined:

1. On Identity

2. On Wild Boars and Other Dangers

3. On the Pyrenees

4. On Finding Your Way Back

5. On Navarra Through Burgos

6. On Honoring Your Story

7. On Rituals

8. On the Meseta

9. On Rage

10. On Making History

11. On Not Being a Richard Peregrino

12. On Galicia

13. On Why You Came Here

14. On Arriving