There’s something about milestone birthdays that quietly ask us to stop and take stock, and sometimes, if we’re paying attention, they also give us a gentle nudge (or a not-so-gentle kick!) to step forward with renewed energy.
As I approach my 55th birthday on 18th February, I’ve been reflecting not just on age, but on meaning. And when I looked a little deeper, I smiled, because the symbolism around this year feels beautifully aligned.
In numerology, 55 is the number of freedom, expansion, and change. It’s associated with adventure, personal evolution, and breaking free from old limitations. It’s not a number that whispers - it invites you to live more boldly, more authentically, and more in alignment with who you’ve become.
That feels about right.
This birthday also arrives during the Year of the Horse, which begins on 17th February, just one day before I turn 55. The Horse symbolises independence, vitality, courage, and forward momentum. It’s about trusting your own rhythm, following your inner knowing, and moving forward with heart rather than force.
And perhaps unsurprisingly, this year is also calling me back to something deeply meaningful.
In April, I’ll be returning to walk the Camino, almost eight years since I last did it. The Camino has a way of meeting you exactly where you are, not where you were, not where you think you should be.
Eight years ago, I walked it as a very different version of myself. This time, I return with more softness, more trust, and a deeper respect for my body, my pace, and my inner voice. I’m not going back to recreate the past, I’m going back to honour who I am now.
This past year has invited me to re-evaluate many things:
my work, my time, my energy, and where and with whom I choose to invest them.
I’ve reflected on the connections that nourished me, the conversations that stayed with me long after they ended, and the opportunities that arrived sometimes quietly, sometimes unexpectedly. I’ve also met challenges that stretched me, slowed me down, and reminded me to listen more carefully to myself.
Some lessons arrived gently.
Others arrived with clarity I couldn’t ignore.
At this stage of life, I’m learning that success isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what matters. It’s about sustainability, integrity, and creating a life and body of work that doesn’t cost you your wellbeing.
Perhaps the greatest lesson of this year has been the reminder to be kinder to ourselves.
To rest without guilt.
To honour our energy.
To allow ourselves to change direction - even when the old path once fit perfectly.
There is a quiet confidence that comes with age. A knowing. A sense that you don’t have to prove yourself anymore - only to be honest with yourself.
So as I step into this new chapter - guided by the freedom of 55, the forward-moving energy of the Horse, and the steady footsteps of the Camino, I do so with gratitude for the years behind me, compassion for the versions of myself that were still learning, and curiosity for what lies ahead.
If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this:
It’s never too late to realign, to reclaim your energy, and to walk your path in a way that feels deeply true to who you are now.
So I’ll ask you what I’m asking myself:
Where in your life are you being invited to move forward with more freedom, more trust, and a little more joy?
A Special Birthday Bonus ✨
As a way of saying thank you for the connections, conversations, and shared moments along the way - I wanted to offer something special as I step into this new chapter.
🌿 Weekend Retreat – Delphi Resort
To celebrate my birthday, I’m offering a discounted rate on my upcoming weekend retreat at the beautiful Delphi Resort in Co. Galway.
This retreat is an invitation to step away from the busyness of everyday life, to pause, rest, and reconnect with yourself, your energy, and what truly matters to you.
✨ [Click here for full details and booking]
💗 Heart Space Gathering – Claregalway, Co. Galway
On Saturday 14th February, I’ll be hosting a Heart Space Gathering in Claregalway - a gentle, heart-led space for connection, reflection, and presence.
To honour friendship and shared growth, you’re invited to bring a friend for half-price. Because some journeys are meant to be shared.
✨ [Click here for full details and booking]
If either of these offerings speaks to you, you’ll be so welcome. And if not, simply know how grateful I am to be walking this path alongside you.
💗Gift Vouchers - 10% discount if bought before the 13th February - Contact Sharon
About Sharon
Sharon Fitzmaurice is a holistic wellness coach and well-being practitioner with over 18 years’ experience supporting individuals and groups in their well-being. She is a Reiki Master Teacher, clinical hypnotherapist, mindfulness & meditation teacher, author of Someone Please Help Me, So I Did and Awaken Your Wellbeing, speaker, and host of The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast, as well as the founder of Soulful Journeys.
Through her work, retreats, and community spaces, Sharon creates compassionate, grounded environments that support healing, reflection, and sustainable personal growth.