Why does walking the Camino de Santiago (825 km from St. Jean Pied de Port) change people — without exception — into more grateful human beings?

In 2014 I've been walking the Camino de Santiago and many more walks followed after that. It got me.

I’ve been thinking about this question why these walks change people. And here’s what I believe:

🚶‍♂️ Simplicity resets your perspective. You carry everything on your back. You learn to appreciate a warm bed, a simple meal, a smile from a stranger. Gratitude and being grateful starts with noticing the little things.

🐢 Slowness awakens awareness. When you slow down, you begin to feel again. To think. To listen. And in that quiet, you rediscover what truly matters.

🤝 You experience pure kindness. Fellow pilgrims, locals, volunteers — they help you with no agenda. Just because. And something happens in you when you receive kindness: you want to give it, too. Great relationships can develop along the way.

🥾 The physical effort breaks down walls. Day after day, you walk. Your body grows tired, your ego softens. And suddenly your heart is open — to emotions, to people, to life.

🌌 You feel connected to something greater. Whether you believe in God or not, the Camino feels sacred. You sense you’re being guided, held, watched over. That feeling leaves a mark.

🎯 The destination gives meaning to the journey. Step by step, you move toward Santiago. And when you arrive — you know you’ve done something real. Something hard. And something deeply beautiful.

That’s why the Camino transforms us. Not through magic — but through presence, simplicity, and shared humanity.

I think the world could use a bit more of that.