A thousand ways to begin again

There are people we meet who remind us of what is possible. Jillian Godsil is one of those people. Her life has been a tapestry of adventure and upheaval - divorce, financial loss, her home being taken, eighteen novels published, multiple awards earned, a radio show, a business lost, and most recently, a breast cancer diagnosis. And still, when she speaks about her life, there is light in her eyes. There is curiosity. There is a sense of wonder about what tomorrow might bring.

During our recent conversation, she shared a moment that has stayed with me. She told me there was a time when she had given up on life, She truly believed there was nothing more for her. The adventure felt over. The meaning had drained away. The story had reached what she thought was its final chapter. And then, as life so often does, it placed a sign in her path. A quiet message from the universe, just loud enough to hear, reminding her that there was still more to come.

And she began again.

We don’t often speak out loud about those moments, the silent surrender, the internal giving up, the belief that we are too tired, too worn out, too late to rebuild. Yet so many of us have felt it. Some of us are feeling it now. Jillian reminded me that beginning again is rarely dramatic. It is not always loud or heroic. Sometimes it looks like curiosity. Sometimes it looks like a small moment of joy in a heavy day. Sometimes it’s simply the question: What if there is more for me?

We cannot choose the circumstances life delivers to our doorstep, but we can choose how we meet them. We can soften around our pain. We can stay open to possibility. We can hold joy and difficulty side by side without asking them to cancel each other out. And we can begin again - not once, but as many times as needed.

Jillian reminded me today that life does not run out of chapters. We never get just one chance at purpose, or creativity, or love. The story continues for as long as we are willing to turn the page.

There is hope in that. There is tenderness in that. And there is always—always—a way to begin again.

Listen to the Conversation

If this message speaks to you, I invite you to listen to my podcast conversation with Jillian Godsil on The Re-Purposed Life. Her courage, honesty, and humour are powerful reminders that curiosity is a lifeline and reinvention is always available.

🎧 Listen here: The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast

Author Bio

Sharon Fitzmaurice is a Holistic Wellness Coach, Reiki Master Teacher & Practitioner, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Author, Speaker, Podcast Host, and Advocate for Mental Health Awareness and survivors of childhood abuse. Founder of the Soulful Journeys Online Community, Sharon supports others to reconnect with purpose, awaken their wellbeing, and live with compassion and curiosity.

And Now, Back to Me

Embracing the Empty Nest with Grace, Laughter, and Love

This week, I had the joy of speaking with Rita Lussier on my podcast - an honest, funny, and deeply touching conversation about something that resonates with so many of us: the empty nest.

Rita, a long-time columnist for The Providence Journal, has recently published her beautiful and soul-stirring book, And Now, Back to Me. It’s a title that says it all. After dedicating decades to nurturing others - her children, her marriage, her career - Rita found herself standing at a new beginning when her youngest child left home for New York City.

And suddenly, the house was quiet. Familiar routines faded. And like many of us, she was faced with the question: Who am I now?

We laughed together during our chat - because there is laughter in this part of the journey. The awkwardness of getting to know our partners again (“Do I even like you still?”), rediscovering how much joy we can share when the distractions of parenting fall away. And perhaps most tenderly, we explored the inner journey of rediscovering ourselves.

This isn’t just a “chapter two” - it’s an entire new book.

For nearly 40% of women in their late 50s, the experience of empty nest syndrome is more than just a transition - it’s an identity shift. So much of our sense of purpose, rhythm, and even self-worth has been tied up in being the anchor for our children. And when they grow their own wings (as they should), we’re left not empty - but open.

Open to rediscovery.
Open to reawakening.
Open to reinvention.

Rita shares so beautifully the hidden challenges we don’t talk about enough - the emotional waves of grief, pride, loneliness, and relief. The bittersweetness of watching our children flourish while we tend to the spaces they once filled. She speaks openly of the “sandwich” role many women now hold - supporting grown children from afar while stepping into care for aging parents. It’s a delicate dance of holding space for others while trying to carve out space for ourselves.

And that’s what makes And Now, Back to Me so special - it’s not just about nostalgia, but about possibility.

This time of life invites us to rekindle not only our relationships with those we love, but with ourselves. What brings us joy? What dreams were placed on pause? What passions are stirring again? Whether it’s reconnecting with creativity, investing in our physical health, tending to our emotional wellbeing, or simply learning how to be again - this is sacred ground.

We are not losing ourselves.
We are returning to ourselves.

If you’re reading this and feeling the pangs of that empty chair at the kitchen table, know this: you’re not alone. And you’re not done. You are stepping into a vibrant, vital season of life - one that holds laughter, new love, deep reflection, and unexpected freedom.

I encourage you to explore Rita’s book, And Now, Back to Me. It’s a heartfelt guide, a companion, and a mirror for the millions of women walking this path.

And as always, I am here - walking alongside you.

Sharon 💛