From Storybooks to the Spa: My Journey (Story of My Life)

Shreda Brown- Business Owner/ Entrepreneur/ Visionary/Author

Growing up in abstract poverty left little room to imagine greater possibilities. There were few mentors to help cultivate the potential I couldn’t yet see in myself. Still, many of my teachers were encouraging—offering small but meaningful glimpses of what might be possible beyond my circumstances. I was a timid and bashful girl. Being seen felt frightening to me. I had no confidence in myself, but I was an extremely observant child. Storybooks became my escape—and my training ground. They taught me the power of imagination. I didn’t just read the stories; I became the characters. I felt their struggles, their sadness, their victories. I remember reading Cinderella. Her stepmother was a sadistic woman who seemed to enjoy her suffering. Cinderella's sadness became my sadness. Her victory became my victory. Her happiness became mine.

But while my imagination soared, real life often left me frustrated. I was never content with small thinking, and that dissatisfaction ran deep. I could envision big things, but I didn’t believe I was capable of achieving them. When I was old enough to work, nothing brought me the same sense of invigoration that storybooks once did. I had jobs that paid me money—but none that made me feel alive. I kept wondering, shouldn’t something that takes up so much of my life also bring me joy?

I often imagined myself as my own boss—and that idea felt right. But for a long time, dreams like that seemed reserved for other people, not someone like me. It wasn’t until my late twenties that things began to shift. I had reached a point of deep searching—asking God to show me who I was and what He created me to do. I was tired of feeling misplaced. And in His quiet, unmistakable way, He answered. Smallness would not be the story of my life. God didn’t shout—He guided. He began leading me toward wellness, beauty, and restoration. Not just outwardly, but from the inside out. What started as curiosity became calling.

I took a leap of faith. I studied, trained, and committed myself to the work. And every step of the way, I felt God’s hand—reminding me that this path wasn’t random. It was written.

Today, I run Esther’s Chamber Bath & Spa House—a sacred space where beauty, healing, and purpose meet. My business is a reflection of the grace of God and the power of restoration. It’s where the little girl who once hid in storybooks now walks confidently in her calling—helping others feel seen, valued, and renewed. Because I know what it’s like to feel invisible.

And I know what it means to be found.

"There is beauty in every struggle"