Once upon a time, Cinderella’s life was a narrow path, well-worn beneath the weight of expectations. Her mother was lost, and her father left her in the care of others—people who didn’t see her, not really. So she did what she had to do. Kept her head down. Survived. Her days blurred into each other, every moment consumed by work and worry. No boundaries. No time. No hope.
But once, there had been dreams. Girlish dreams, spun from giddy hopes, whispered in the dark. They’d faded, trampled beneath endless chores, but not entirely gone. They were sparks, waiting.
Then came the invitation—glittering, impossible—a glimpse of something more. A question rose, sharp and terrifying: What if something could change?
Cinderella’s heart lurched. Part of her didn’t believe it, couldn’t. But the ache was real. A longing that wouldn’t stay buried. Maybe, just maybe, the invitation was meant for her.
Almost without thinking, she began to gather. Little by little, scraps became treasures. She stitched dreams together with worn thread: a kind word here, a whispered compliment there. One friend. One connection. One tiny spark of warmth in her days.
Mice, frogs, and lizards—unnoticed creatures—became allies. A pumpkin became a carriage. Rough and humble, but enough. And when her hands shook with doubt, a wise woman appeared, not to save her, but to show her how it all fit together. “The magic was always yours,” she whispered.
The night was a blur of light and laughter. For one radiant moment, her girlish dreams came to life. Everything she touched turned to possibility. But magic, borrowed in a rush, is never built to last.
Midnight struck. The wheels fell off. Giddy beauty crumbled into scraps. The world snapped back into its same old shape. Almost.
Because now Cinderella knew. Knew what it felt like to be seen and to stand in her own light. Knew that scraps could become wonders. Knew the shoes fit.
So she began again. This time, not with desperate speed, but with steady care. A vision pulsed beneath her ribs, no longer just a dream, but a compass.
She walked her own path, one step at a time. Not chasing a fantasy, but weaving one. Feeling for the next right thing. Each connection, each boundary gently placed, each moment of rest—these were her magic now.
It was Woman’s work. The work of being a Woman.
And in that work, she found herself—no longer a girl scrambling for a dream, but a Woman creating a world, where Women, all Women, are seen and valued for their full humanity, not only their service.
One step towards the universe
Dreams become reality one step at a time—especially when we walk them together.
Join me for One Step Towards the Universe, a guided coworking session where we turn intentions into action, one focused hour at a time.
Whether you’re building, creating, or just trying to find your way forward, this is your space to show up, breathe, and take that next step. 💫
Shall we begin?
[✨ Yes! I feel this.✨]
Spark up*
When a woman dreams A story of ups and downs and possibility when we travel together. ✨ Free PDF download.
Showing up and sharing stories: Every conversation and connection holds wisdom. Laila Atmane and Rachael both share some stories. Real women’s stories of transformation podcast
Recalibrate for joy : The shift is as close as taking a moment to tune into which direction feels most inviting to move towards. Free audio guide.
It begins where you are, with whatever you have. Maybe it’s a whisper of a dream, a thread of curiosity, or a quiet ache for something more. Maybe it’s an idea you’ve been carrying for years, folded up like a map you keep meaning to open.
You don’t have to see the whole path yet. You don’t have to be fearless or certain.
You only need to take one step.
It might be a conversation — one where you speak a little more honestly than before. It might be a question you dare to ask, even if you’re not sure of the answer. It might be trying something new, letting yourself fumble a bit, just to see what happens.
One step is enough.
Because one step begins a rhythm. And rhythm, once felt, becomes a dance.
The steady walk towards your universe is not about perfection. It’s about letting the idea of ‘one day’ turn into a series of todays.
One step.
One real, small action that builds the prototype of your dream into something you can touch. Something you can live.
Keep walking.
The universe is closer than you think.
Will you join me?
AuDHD-friendly affirmation for powerful Women
Many women love to help, support, and create.
They are conditioned to overextend, minimize their needs, and carry more than their share.
Which undermines our ability to rest, receive, and rise fully into our own light.
Remember you can pause, breathe, and choose—one step at a time.
I trust you to honor your own pace, finding power in steady progress.
Inside One Step Toward the Universe, you’ll find a gentle container for your focus, your dreams, and your growth—one hour of power, shared. 🌟
Drafting notes for Cinderella Redux
Cinderella and the steps
Lol, lots of them to climb back up.
So easy to run down and lose it all again….
Burnout isn’t a time problem, it’s a boundary problem
Ok, so what do i want to say here.
Cinderella – lost her mother, father has trusted her care to others.
I am feeling so annoyed right now
acknowledge that
and shift focus to who invites without disturbing and disrupting.
Great. How does this tie in to Cinderella.
Oh, she does not like her step people, but forced to stay with them
She doesn’t have to like them.
Does have some boudnary issues because she can’t leave.
But she has friends around her that she does like
The animals.
And in a pinch, the fairy godmother.
And step by step, these friends lift her spirits.
Mess with the timeframes – what if it didn’t happen all at once (though it may come together like that)
Oh, that’s the moment when it does all come together….
marginalisation
Cinderella and the steps.
lots of them to climb back up to.
High energy Temporary state – a vision
So easy to run down and lose it all again….
The wheels fall off.
Frantic pulling it all together for a deadline.
And yes, it’s amazing while it lasts.
But bodgy.
To be sustainable, the road is longer and more enjoyable,
Guided by the feeling every step.
This is maturity.
Woman’s work.
The work of being a woman.
Informed by the giddy dreams of girls.
Cinderella is in burnout, and by habit, forces the escape, but lapses back into near burnout
But can also feel something more.
Now slow and steady, mature, woman’s work to create the world she’s glimpsed.
Burnout isn’t a time problem, it’s a boundary problem
Cinderella – lost her mother, father has trusted her care to others.
Keeping head down Doing what you have to do
Valuing the friends and connections you have for warmth day to day
No time because no boundaries.
No boundaries because no hope, no vision of how anything could be different.
All same same
But then the invitation that means maybe things could change.
When she accepts that the invitation includes her – despite difficult situation etc.
So then she is Holding on to invitation that triggers her deep desire for better.
Pulling together the pieces she need.
Almost unconsciously.
From the scraps available, over time
Gather the makings of your vehicle and your supporters, retainers.
One step at a time
One friend
One conversation
One compliment
One hug
Mice, frogs, lizards become footmen and horses
A pumpkin for a carriage. Hmmm pumpkins.
One time, when you’re feeling most left out and lost, one fairy godmother wise woman helps you see how it atl fits together into exactly the magic you need for this moment.
One glorious evening when everything is perfect.
When imagination and reality collide / meet for the first time.
As if that was ever going to last.
Everything falls apart again….
But now the feeling is with her.
Though suddenly she realises the horses are mice, etc – the short comings.
But now she knows what it feels like to wear the shoes.
And she can walk her own path, in the shoes that fit.
With self belief.
One step at a time.
Following the feeling again, until it becomes her daily reality.
So it’s the same story curve, but the timeframes are different.
One step towards the universe
Where you walk the walk, building the prototype in to your reality.
shapes of stories
Substack – Kurt Vonnegut
Cinderella ! Steps, memory…
Curve
https://youtu.be/GOGru_4z1Vc?si=eLndwOxx2JEIPnId 17mins
https://youtu.be/4_RUgnC1lm8?si=EQk8G3FIvy6wjHak 54 mins
https://youtu.be/oP3c1h8v2ZQ?si=nEDVytXvNVcyiZ65 4 mins
There’s a lot of Cinderellas in the room feeling for the comfortable shoes. We’re figuring it out together, step by step, day by day. Look forward to watching you rediscover your speak.
Explain the thinking behind that.
Burnout. Work together. Find the comfortable shoes, that only we can wear.
That seem unbelievable and impractical, yet feel amazing, and create astonishing opportunities
Cinderella. I thought of this because burnout – ash – cinderella.
Doing the caring work.
Exhausted.
Fairy godmother.
Not one but many – all the women in the world who viscerally understand the struggle
And who are rooting for you
And when you talk about your dreams, your wishes
They can make them come true.
And find comfortable shoes.
To take you where you want to go.
So there is an element of tasting it first, time limited
And then once the heart connection is made
The shoes, ie your path, will find you.
How does that sound for a plan?
Cinderella – burnt out. Comfortable shoes
More on making space for transformation
A true story of shopping centre magic
From girlish dreams to Woman’s Work: Cinderella Redux
