I went to reflect. I returned with something deeper.
As a leadership coach, I help others navigate complexity, change, and growth. But recently, I stepped away from the structured world of calendars and Zoom calls to walk one of Europe’s oldest pilgrimage routes. What follows is a reflection from the trail, and an invitation to leaders to consider what we may be missing when we forget to make space for wonder.
Walking the Via Francigena: An Ancient Path with Modern Lessons
I just returned from walking a section of the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage route that winds through Italy on its way to Rome. I expected the beauty of the changing landscape and the meditative rhythm of the walk. But what truly surprised me was what stirred inside: a long-forgotten sense of wonder.
Remembering Magic: A Personal Story
It reminded me of traveling with my Uncle Smithy. Everyone should have their version of an Uncle Smithy. Mine opened the door to enchantment: fairy rings in England, Viking legends in Scandinavia, gnomes in Germany’s Black Forest. I wasn’t a child, but I believed it all.
I hadn’t thought about those memories in years until I started walking the Camino. It stirred something dormant. I was reminded of magic. Of miracles. Of the unseen world that lingers just beyond what we can explain. I felt the presence of the countless pilgrims who had walked this path before me. There was a sense of lineage, of energy moving through the soles of my feet.
The Leadership Lesson: Structure vs. Wonder
Like many who take on pilgrimage routes, I went in part to reflect, but also to reset.
And what I found was how intensely structured and task-driven my life had become. My days were efficient, productive, and, if I’m honest, transactional. These habits serve me well.
But somewhere along the way, I had lost touch with the part of me that delights in mystery and in moments that cannot be planned.
The Camino softened that. It showed me how tightly I’d been holding the reins.
Surrendering Control to Regain Perspective
I’ve long taken pride in my resolve, in the belief that “if it is to be, it’s up to me.” But on that ancient trail, surrounded by the quiet beauty, I felt small in the best possible way. Not diminished, just released.
The walk gave me was space to remember:
That beauty, mystery, and inspiration are not luxuries. They are lifelines.
That life is not only about effort. Sometimes, it’s about wonder.
That rest and trust are not in opposition to productivity. They are its roots.
A Call to Leaders: Make Space for Awe
It’s easy to become consumed by goals, deliverables, and decisions. But the most visionary leaders I know also make space for curiosity. For reverence. For awe.
Wonder is not a distraction from leadership; it is part of its foundation.
A Leadership Reflection Prompt
When was the last time you felt awe?
Not pride. Not relief. Awe.
What stirred it? And how might you make space for that feeling again?
I’d Love to Hear from You
This journey gave me more than insight, it gave me a shift in perspective I didn’t know I needed.
What brings you back to wonder?
Send me a message. I’d love to hear your reflections.
-Leanne
PS: This reflection is only part of the story. I shared more about what led me to walk the Camino—and how change was calling here.
