為什麼出發朝聖之路？
在路上說完 Buen camino後，如果有機會跟對方並肩一起走一段路，在彼此簡單自我介紹完，我通常會接著問這個問題：
「你為什麼來走這條路？」
32天的路上，我遇到形形色色的朝聖者。
搜集到最多的答案是因為離職了、或是正好工作轉換中。
但比起那個「現在的理由」，我更好奇的是
「那顆最早被埋下的種子，是從什麼時候開始的。」
而這時候，答案就變得有趣多了。
像我是看了一部電影；
有人是看了某部電視節目介紹；
有人是想完成爸爸的遺願；
或是從某個遠方聽到這條路，想也沒想就出發了。
–
克羅埃西亞的 Robi，擁有美好成功的家庭、事業，出發的原因是來校準自己的人生。
美國的 Parker 賣掉了他的公司，於是出發。
墨西哥的一對兄弟，因為爸爸病逝來完成的願望。
也有更多的歐美旅人，只是因為喜歡戶外運動於是來到這裡。
–
有原因也好，沒有原因，其實也很好。
總覺得這條路從來不要求答案，它只是在某個時間點出現，然後等你準備好，或甚至還沒準備好，就踏在這條路上了。
情報站小補充：大家為什麼走朝聖之路？
朝聖之路最早是宗教朝聖，但今天走上這條路的理由早已五花八門。光是 2023 年就有約 44.6 萬人完成朝聖、領到證書，其中純宗教動機的已不到四成，更多人是為了情緒沉澱、自我探索，或正處在生涯轉換的關口。趙Ｑ在路上聽到最多的答案是「剛離職」或「正在轉職」，這其實正是近年的普遍現象。不少人的種子也來自一本書或一部電影，像作家謝哲青的作品，或電影《那時候我只剩下勇敢》，都帶起了無關宗教的朝聖風潮。一千個朝聖者，就有一千種出發的理由。
–
After saying Buen camino on the road,
if there’s a chance to walk side by side for a while,
once we’ve exchanged a brief introduction,
this is usually the question I ask next:
“What brought you to the Camino?”
Over thirty-two days on the road,
I met pilgrims of all kinds.
The most common answer was that they had quit their jobs,
or were in the middle of a career transition.
But more than the reason of now,
I found myself curious about something else:
“When was the seed first planted?”
And that’s when the answers became more interesting.
I came because I watched a film.
Someone else discovered the path through a TV program.
Someone was fulfilling their father’s final wish.
Others heard about this road from somewhere far away
and left without thinking twice.
—
Robi from Croatia had a beautiful, successful family and career;
he came to recalibrate his life.
Parker from the U.S. sold his company,
and then he set off.
A pair of brothers from Mexico walked in memory of their father,
who had passed away.
And many others simply came because they love the outdoors.
—
Having a reason is fine.
Having none is fine too.
Perhaps this road never asks for answers.
It simply appears at a certain moment,
and waits for you to step onto it—
whether you feel ready,
or not yet ready at all.
And so, you go.
本文由駐站朝聖者：趙Q 撰寫。如果你也走過朝聖之路，歡迎投稿分享你的故事，讓更多人也能感受到你的經驗與樂趣！一起感受朝聖的美好~
