Episode Notes

Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk: true-life, practical, funny, heart-breaking, insightful human experience stories from women who are walking their lives while their lives walk them and the lasting difference these journeys have made. You’ll recognize yourself in stories of adversity, challenge, fear, discovery, adventure, expression, and more. Why? Because, the sorcery of stories is this: they help each of us to be seen and heard, to understand and be understood. I’m your host, Diane Wyzga.

Welcome back to my conversation with Camino pilgrim, hospitelera, and photographer Lisa Morales who joined me from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. When last we spoke I asked Lisa: How did the Camino touch your experiences as you were living the tempest story of your life? Let’s listen as this wise and wonderful woman draws us further into her life showing us what tomorrow can look like if you just do it!

34:24 Minutes

0:00 to 2:07     Intro

Tempest to Recovery

2:07 to 3:20   Along Came the Divorce

• In despair, major custody battle looming and her son says: “It’s okay, mom. We’re pilgrims, we can handle this.”
• We did it!
• They returned to Camino in 2016 and while there received the final offer of divorce settlement was delivered. Ignored it and walked
• 1 year later was serving as volunteer on Camino when – after 16 years of marriage – Lisa’s divorce became final
• Camino gave her and son strength to cope

3:20 to 5:35     Suggestions For Taking a Risk When Feeling Unsure

• Married at 17, divorced at 19, college with child – had no fears then
• What was scary: being over 50, broke, life dreams destroyed was much more shocking
• Took several years to get back confidence
• Practical Tips: Find tribe – get support – be in community
• Helping others helped her tremendously
• One is never alone on Camino
• Serving on Camino when 40 pilgrims need you every day you go in with your heart and focus on them, not your worries

Caring For Others

5:35 to 9:00     The Role of the Hospitelera Volunteer

Question: You said that you are not a natural caregiver; but here you are serving as a hospitelera volunteer for 40 pilgrims every day. How did you make that happen for you?

• Happened for her or happened for the pilgrims
• Get outside your own head
• Stepping up for someone else
• Various types of albergues
• Her volunteer role was in public or donativo setting (pay what you can) in Portugal
• Donativo strictly for the pilgrim with an authentic Camino credential

9:00 to 12:40     The Rewards of Hospitelera Volunteer

• No control who shows up at albergue door everyday
• Rewarding to be an inspiring part of someone’s Camino
• Purpose: make pilgrim’s next 12 hours as best as can be
• Lisa lived in village for 2 weeks so got to know the locals, take part in festivals, feast days, and Masses
• The experience put Lisa outside of her problems
• Reminiscences of who she helped with kindness
• Soak feet in vinegar, salt, and water
• Hospitelera gestures enlarge the human Camino experience
• “Church is who we are – not where we go” ; this reflects the role

12:40 to 16:25     Stepped Outside Comfort Zone and Reinvented Self

Question: What 3 tips do you have for our listeners who are considering stepping outside their comfort zone to reinvent themselves?

• Start small
• Find your tribe
• Build confidence
• Go do it!
• Volunteer: homeless shelter, soup kitchen
• Local youth hostel will give you experience of sleeping in dorm setting with strangers
• Take a longer walk than used to and do it again
• If interested, American Pilgrims on Camino was Lisa’s tribe and place to go where everyone says: You can be a pilgrim! Yes! You can do this!
• Also, train as hospitelera with Voluntarios/Galicia, Spain as well as Canadian confraternity
• Training provides confidence, support that you can do this
• Financial support available

Photography

16:25 to 19:30     Mid-life Crisis Career

• Began volunteering as hospitelera, walking more routes, and turning my first brand-new camera toward the people and places along The Way.
• Now working on a photo book “Camino Time and Place.”
• Was a long love drawn to and finally allowed self to experience
• Bought camera and traveled to countries to find best teachers to learn
• Visited 15 countries and 27 states in 2.5 years photographing
• Project: combining historical images with modern pilgrims
• Was chosen to contribute feature photo for Confraternity of St. James Guidebook in London: Camino Pilgrim™ Guides: Camino Finisterre-Muxía 2018/2019
• Also working on a very substantive, informative project:  Guidebook on North American pilgrimage/sacred sites with writer Stacey Wittig

19:30 to 20:20     Putting Your Work Out There

• Hard to put your work out there as newbie photographer – newbie anything
• Challenged herself to engage in competitions and juried shows
• Being judged is growth experience
• Photography is central to Lisa’s life
• Inspired by Michael George and his photo essay on Camino for National Geographic

20:20 to 23:40     Tips: Put Yourself Out There and Just Do It! 

• Start small
• Find your tribe: joined local Camera club
• Year 1: began putting it out there – what’s worse that might happen?
• Contest judging very subjective
• I’ll learn even if I don’t win a prize
• Find those who will give you an honest and educated answer
• Reach out to those who know more than you
• Start small
• Find your tribe
• Educate yourself
• Find the people who know what they’re doing and seek them out
• Get over it and do it
• What’s the worst that can happen – usually not catastrophic
• Women as campers and hikers: will I be safe? can I do this?

23:40 to 25:20     Anecdote: Powerful Woman Arrives As Pilgrim

• Anecdote: European Parliament member from UK arrives as  pilgrim but first time in albergue
• Intimate clothing not worth much
• Travel is great leveler on foot because nobody gets to first class

Legacy

25:20 to 27:50     Lasting Results

Question: You wrote: “I know only that the camino, the natural world and creating art are in my near future. And dogs. I am seeing the great outdoors from the comfort of my tiny teardrop trailer, documenting this astounding and disturbing moment in our history, until the Camino calls again.”  As you sit here today what lasting result do you want to make, for whom, and how?

• My children first and foremost
• Introducing son and his friends to nature, hiking, camping
• Being a witness at protests and demonstrations documenting with her camera
• Photography is a form of witness
• Who she’s already touched by Camino and hospitelera service
• Inspired by the comments left in guest books at albergues about how Lisa touched lives

27:50 to 31:00     Anecdote: Young Pilgrim From South America

• Pilgrim from South America who set out with nothing but a bedroll and his school backpack
• Lisa cobbled together items from the Lost & Found
• They most likely will never forget each other; for Lisa that’s enough
• We connect or collapse
• Our connection extends hope
• Lisa’s photography extends hope
• Inspired to become hospitelera by Padre Ernesto who turned family’s property into albergue:   Albergue la Cabaña del Abuelo Peuto,  Güemes 
• Practical Tip: Do your work in the expectation that it counts and will pay it forward

31:00 to 34:24     Thank You and Buen Camino!

• Before I say thank you I want to mention that all social media links as well as connections to Lisa’s website are posted in the Episode Notes below. Make sure you drop by and check out the many resources, images and stories available to you and subscribe to her newsletter to stay in touch.
• Muchas gracias por todo – thank you very much for sharing your Camino with us. Buen Camino!
• Wonderful you are putting these stories out into the world. Listening to prior guest interviews have also inspired me in countless ways

Here we are, at the end of the road but not the journey. Thank you for listening to this episode of Stories From Women Who Walk with your host Diane Wyzga and my guest Lisa Morales. I hope you were as inspired and encouraged as I was listening to Lisa share the journey of her life story that reminds us we are big bold beautiful lives in progress. Remember to visit Lisa on her website and many social media platforms to stay in touch with what’s next. All links are in the Episode Notes.

Meanwhile, please stop by every Monday through Friday for 60 Seconds, Time Out Tuesday, Story Prompt Friday, and the 2nd & 3rd Thursday of each month for guest interviews. You’ll find us on Simplecast or your favorite podcast platform. Come for the stories – stay for the magic! And speaking of magic, create some by subscribing to this podcast and sharing a nice shout out! on your favorite social media or podcast listening platform. When you return bring your friends and rellies. You will have wonderful company as we walk our lives together.

Lisa Morales BIO

Approaching 50 in 2014, after a career in first labor relations and then real estate, the challenge I chose was walking the Camino de Santiago with my then 10 year old son. He became very ill in Bilbao, but we hit the road again after hospitalization. I became injured in Ribadeo, and he marked the map where we would take up the endeavor again 18 months later.

The Camino became all-encompassing. I began volunteering as hospitalera, walking more routes, and turning my first brand-new camera toward the people and places along The Way. I mentor new pilgrims here at home, and counsel returning pilgrims about integrating their camino into their “real lives.”

About to become an empty-nester for the second time in 22 years, I know only that the Camino, and creating art are in my future.  With Covid raging and my travel confined to the USA, I am seeing the great outdoors from the comfort of my tiny teardrop trailer, photographically documenting this astounding and disturbing moment in our history, until the Camino calls again.

How to Contact and Stay In Touch with Lisa

https://lisamorales.myportfolio.com/

https://www.lisamorales.com/

https://www.pinterest.com/LisaMoralesPhoto/

https://www.facebook.com/lisamoralesphoto/

https://www.instagram.com/lisamoralesphoto/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisalmorales/

About the Guest

Lisa Morales BIO

Approaching 50 in 2014, after a career in first labor relations and then real estate, the challenge I chose was walking the Camino de Santiago with my then 10 year old son. He became very ill in Bilbao, but we hit the road again after hospitalization. I became injured in Ribadeo, and he marked the map where we would take up the endeavor again 18 months later.

The Camino became all-encompassing. I began volunteering as hospitalera, walking more routes, and turning my first brand-new camera toward the people and places along The Way. I mentor new pilgrims here at home, and counsel returning pilgrims about integrating their camino into their “real lives.”

About to become an empty-nester for the second time in 22 years, I know only that the Camino, and creating art are in my future.  With Covid raging and my travel confined to the USA, I am seeing the great outdoors from the comfort of my tiny teardrop trailer, photographically documenting this astounding and disturbing moment in our history, until the Camino calls again.

Contributors

Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music
Lisa Morales Pilgrim & Photographer
Darwin Carlisle & First Class Reels
Diane Wyzga Podcaster & Ideas to Action Facilitator