Finding Myself in Vilafamés: A Journey of Being Lost and Found

By Amy Blansit of Springfield, Missouri & Vilafamés, Spain

There’s something profoundly unsettling yet deeply liberating about being lost—especially when you find yourself in a place that seems to exist outside of time, like Vilafamés, a small, storybook village perched on a hill in Spain’s Castellón province. For someone like me—who spends much of her life deeply rooted in Springfield, Missouri—where routine and structure are second nature—getting lost was the last thing I expected, let alone welcomed. But as it turns out, letting go and traveling throughout the coast of Spain with my mom during the summer of 2021 was exactly what I needed to find a deeper sense of self.

A Village That Defies Me

Vilafamés, with its labyrinth of cobblestone streets, terracotta rooftops, and ancient stone walls, is not a place you navigate with a map. The village seems to defy linear direction—its streets twist and meander, leading you to unexpected corners: a sunlit plaza framed by bougainvillea, a hidden café where the owner insists you try her freshly baked pastries, or an art gallery tucked into what was once a medieval, palatial home.

I had arrived in Spain with an itinerary and a plan. I would explore cities and villages around Barcelona to find a potential vacation home just after the borders were reopened post COVID. I was chasing a dream from 2007 and perhaps running away from the toils of my “real life.” What I didn’t realize was that Vilafamés had other plans for me. Within moments of wandering its streets, I was enamored. My phone lost service, and even the “blue dot” on my map app seemed to surrender to this village where it seemed time had stopped. I leaned into the experience and my mother and I were whisked away to another time—the texture of the uneven stones beneath my feet, the way the sunlight danced on the whitewashed walls, the melodic chatter of locals as they hung laundry or sipped café con leche. I was suddenly so completely present.

The Freedom of Letting Go

In Springfield, my days are filled with purpose—community development projects, advocating for affordable housing, and championing to help my neighbors thrive. Every hour feels accounted for. In Vilafamés, time seemed to stretch and bend. There were no meetings to attend, no emails to answer. Just me, the village, and the quiet pull of curiosity.

Wandering aimlessly through the streets, I stumbled upon a small art studio. The artist, a man named Jesús, invited me in. His English was limited, as was my Spanish, but we managed to communicate through gestures and smiles and my adoration of the art he and his wife create. He showed me their narrow, three story studio—traficdart.com. As he shared their passions through art, I felt a kind of stillness settle over me—a reminder of the beauty in creating something with care and intention.

Finding Myself in the Quiet Moments

By the time my mom and I found oury way back to our quaint hotel, the sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over the village. I sat on the terrace, gazing out at the olive groves and the mountains in the distance, and reflected on the day. Giving up the plan I had laid out, and allowing myself to get lost in Vilafamés, I had found a version of myself I hadn’t seen in years—a quieter, more observant self, unburdened by the constant need to achieve and be productive.

Vilafamés reminded me that sometimes, the best way to find yourself is to let go of the need to control everything. To embrace uncertainty. To trust that, even when you don’t know where you’re going, you’re exactly where you need to be.

Bringing Vilafamés Home

Back in Springfield, I’ve tried to carry a piece of Vilafamés with me. Not just the photos or the art I bring back with each visit, but the mindset—the willingness to wander, to pause, to notice the beauty in the everyday. It’s not always easy in the hustle and bustle of daily life, but every now and then, when I find myself anxious about an unexpected path, I remember the twisting streets of Vilafamés and smile.

Because sometimes, letting go is the only way to truly find yourself.