Walking in the Footsteps of Strong Women

This photo was taken early in the morning on the Camino, before the sun had risen.

I remember looking up and seeing the stars still shining, and ahead of me, the quiet shadow of a pilgrim walking beneath the trees.

Those early mornings gave me something I didn’t even realize I needed — time.

Time to walk.

Time to breathe.

Time to think.

And in that space, I found myself doing the mental work and the spiritual work that I desperately needed.

Reflecting on my childhood.

On my lineage.

On all the good, the messy, and the beautiful that has shaped me.

Walking day after day has a way of softening your defenses.

Your thoughts wander, and memories rise up.

And I realized something that filled my heart: I don’t walk alone.

I walk in the footsteps of strong women — my mom, my grandma, and the women who came before them.

Women who loved, who endured, who showed up, who carried on even when life wasn’t easy.

In so many ways, I am becoming who they prepared me to be.

Not perfect.

Not without scars.

But stronger, kinder, more aware, and more grateful than I once was.

The Camino gave me the gift of slowing down enough to truly see that connection —how their love, their lessons, and even the difficult moments all helped shape the woman I am today.

And for that, I feel nothing but gratitude.

So today, I invite you to reflect with me.

Who are the women who walk with you in spirit, guiding you along your path?

Maybe it’s your mother, your grandmother, an aunt, a teacher, a friend…or even a woman whose courage quietly changed your life.

Wherever your path is leading you, may you feel the strength and love of those who helped make you who you are.

🩵We are all pilgrims of the heart. 🩵Let’s walk this path together.🩵— Mary@Home | The Joyful Gypsy Gal