Reflections from the rugged coastline of Achill Island
Dear friends,
I’ve just returned from a soul-nourishing two-week holiday on the breath-taking shores of Achill Island, where the wild Atlantic winds reminded me to breathe more deeply, and the untamed coastline seemed to whisper truths I had almost forgotten.
Like many of you, I live a life of service - guiding others, creating space for healing, holding space for transformation and development. It’s a path I walk with deep love and purpose. But sometimes, in the busyness of giving, we forget to give to ourselves.
As I walked each day along the cliffs, watching the waves crash below and the sky stretch endlessly above, I began to reflect on how available we often make ourselves to others -through work, messages, care-giving, and constant productivity. And yet, how seldom we offer that same availability to our own soul.
A Quiet Realisation
In that stillness, I found myself asking:
“Why do I do what I do?”
The answer came softly but clearly:
To help others remember their own strength… but only if I first remember my own.
This moment of reconnection reminded me of a truth I often teach, but needed to re-learn for myself:
We cannot pour from an empty cup. We cannot lead from depletion. We cannot help others heal without honouring our own healing.
Your Gentle Invitation
So, this July, I invite you - lovingly and without pressure - to remember what is important. Not the deadlines. Not the unread messages. But the deep exhale. The silence between actions. The space where you can simply be.
Take a walk. Let the wind kiss your face. Turn your phone off for an hour. Ask yourself:
“Am I available to my own soul today?”
It doesn’t have to be a big retreat. Even a few quiet moments can bring you back to your centre.
This Is Why I Do What I Do
Returning from this holiday, I feel more grounded in my purpose:
To walk alongside others in their healing journeys - not as someone who has all the answers, but as someone who remembers what it means to come home to herself.
Let’s continue to remind each other.
To pause.
To reflect.
To nourish what truly matters.
Sharon Fitzmaurice
Holistic Wellness Coach | Soulful Journeys Founder | Author | The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast