What encourages us to undertake a pilgrimage to Santiago, what feelings inspire us, what is our motivation to take the first step. These are some of the questions that arise in our minds when we face the experience of doing the Camino de Santiago.
Agne-Henrik Strid is one of those pilgrims whose life has been changed by the Camino. Today he leads the project Camino_Stories, a wonderful commitment to life and human wisdom transmitted by people who have shared their different experiences around the Camino.
We open this space on our website to offer you all this rich experience so personal, so human, so positive. We hope that, like us, it enriches you and brings you the values that traditionally, today and in the future, the Camino de Santiago has had, has and will have for humanity.
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First, tell us a little about yourself: where do you come from, what do you do, how did you get to know the Camino?
My name is Agne-Henrik Strid, and I call the Netherlands home. Here, I share my life with my wife and our two wonderful kids. Professionally, I tread the commercial path of copywriting. In my spare time, I often take long walks and lose myself in the beauty of nature, each step a renewed connection with myself.
My affair with the Camino de Santiago began during a semester in Bilbao in 2005. An unforgettable one-day stretch of the camino with fellow students left an indelible mark on my spirit. That day, amidst the picturesque landscapes of the Basque region, I vowed to walk the Camino in its entirety one day. Now, as a seasoned Camino veteran, I find immense joy in encapsulating the inspiring anecdotes of fellow pilgrims into words, creating a mosaic of shared human experience.
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Tell us about your Camino experience – which way(s) have you done and when. What inspired you to undertake the way? Do you prefer hiking alone or in company? What’s your main motivation for walking the Camino?
My experiences with the Camino have spanned two routes: the Camino Frances and the Camino del Norte. The desire to undertake these pilgrimages stemmed from a period of introspection and unease. At that time, I was working for the United Nations in Colombia, a role that increasingly didn’t resonate with my inner compass. I knew what I didn’t want, but I struggled to discern what I truly desired. The Camino called to me as a sanctuary, a space where I could wander and wonder and hopefully find the answers I sought.
Initially, I intended to walk alone, using solitude as a canvas for introspection. But the Camino, in its mysterious ways, had different plans. I met an incredible score of individuals along the way – each with their own stories, wisdom, and spirit. These lovely and inspiring souls became unexpected companions on my journey, adding richer hues to my Camino experience.
So my primary motivation for walking the Camino became more than a search for personal answers. It became a journey of connection – with myself and others along these ancient paths. The Camino provided an opportunity to step outside my familiar patterns, look at the world with fresh eyes, and return with a renewed perspective, not only about my career but also about my place in life.
What inspired you to start your project? What message would you like to transmit to people?
The genesis of my Camino_Stories project lies in the individuals I encountered along my Camino journeys. The Camino was not just a trail but a moving tableau of life itself, with people from diverse backgrounds, each carrying their unique experiences, wisdom, and stories. Among them were the wise, the amusing, the exasperating, and the eccentric, each weaving their own thread into the fabric of the Camino.
What struck me was how these fellow pilgrims also served as mirrors, reflecting facets of myself. I realized that each interaction, shared laugh, and irritation, was also a lesson about myself.
This transformative experience inspired me to capture these tales, to provide a platform where others could also glean wisdom, laughter, and perhaps even self-recognition from these Camino stories.
The message I aspire to transmit is one of openness and joy. I encourage everyone to approach the Camino, and indeed life, with an open mind. The Camino provides what you need, often in the most unexpected ways. So, relinquish expectations and let the journey unfold. But amidst these profound experiences, don’t forget the simple joy of being there, in the moment, beneath the open skies, and in the company of fellow travelers on the path of life. Enjoy every step. Enjoy every breath. Enjoy the Camino.
Do you have a story or a person who moved you most of others? Can you share it with us?
Among the many pilgrims, I crossed paths with on the Camino, one individual stands out — an Anglican priest from Oxford. Our paths intertwined for a few days, long enough for me to learn his intriguing tale. He had once been an oil driller for British Petroleum, his work spanning across the globe. Yet, amidst the mechanics and materialism, he felt a profound longing for a deeper connection with people, to be a beacon of support and guidance.
When his church approached him with the proposition of priesthood, he didn’t hesitate. He chose a path diverging starkly from his previous profession, a path of service and spiritual connection. Despite the significant shift, his conviction was unwavering.
Although I’m not religious myself, his journey resonated deeply with me. His courage and resolution to embrace such a drastic change, to follow a calling resonating with his heart, became a beacon for me. Inspired by his daring leap of faith, I made my own. I stepped away from my well-paying job, a role that no longer fulfilled me, and turned to a path that had long called to me: writing.
His story served as a reminder that it’s never too late to follow our dreams, to realign our lives with our authentic selves. It’s a story I carry with me, not just in memory but as a part of my own narrative, shaping the person and the writer I am today.
What would be your advice for people planning to walk the Camino for the first time?
For those planning to walk the Camino for the first time, here’s what I’d say: Prepare not just physically but emotionally too. Pack light, but carry a heart full of openness and curiosity. Expect challenges but also unexpected acts of kindness. The Camino isn’t just a path, it’s a microcosm of life. You will find parts of yourself you never knew existed, meet people who’ll leave an imprint on your soul, and behold vistas that will be etched in your heart forever. But most importantly, remember that the Camino is not just about reaching Santiago, it’s about every step, every breath, and every moment that leads you there. Buen Camino!
Agne-Henrik
