Rediscovering Joy: One Galaxy Light At a Time
I'm sitting in my home office at dawn, watching galaxy lights dance across my ceiling, and I can't stop smiling. I'm in an era of rediscovering joy—saying yes to play and wonder, to the things that make me smile without apology.
It started at a retreat when my friend's galaxy light mesmerized me. [What was happening in that moment? What childhood memory surfaced?] Something about those moving stars and the ripple of color brought a smile to my face. To this day, I can’t tell you exactly why it brings so much joy to me. I just knew I needed one for my home office.
Now I turn it on during morning journaling and during Zoom calls. Those swirling galaxies become a backdrop for almost all my meetings, and I love watching peoples’ faces light up when they notice.
My collection grew after visiting a local spa where I discovered another colorful light projecting ocean waves across the walls. The soft blue dancing across the walls was mesmerizing….soft and playful. Effortless almost. And when I noticed that you could turn it to different colors? I was sold. When I got home, I picked one up for myself.
These simple lights have transformed my daily experience. I find myself sitting in darkness (morning and evening), just gazing at the shifting colors. I feel peaceful. Relaxed. Full of joy and wonder.
But here's what’s interesting: years ago, I would never have done this.
I might have wanted these lights, maybe even bought them for private enjoyment. But during a Zoom call? Never. That's not professional. What would people think?
That was before I started doing the hard work of reconnecting with myself these past 2-3 years. A journey of self-discovering and remembering who I really was. Before I started letting "little Chris" come out to play. The one who thrives on color and fun and who wants to live in a state of wonder and joy. Fun fact: She’s the part of me that nudged me to get my tattoos…especially the Care Bear one!
The lights dance across my ceiling as I write this. I'm still smiling, grateful for this reminder that joy is always available and that play and wonder are needed in this world.
What small thing brings you unexplainable joy? What part of yourself have you been keeping hidden in the name of being "professional" or "appropriate"?
Maybe it's time to let them shine.
Want to grab your own lights? Here are the two that I use and are in the video:
Galaxy Light
Ocean Wave Light
New light added on 9/21/25! (not pictured in video)
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