Inspire Joy, Power, Possibility & Presence Through Authenticity.
Just A Ray of Light & Magic
Finding Joy on a Solo Adventure
Joy, light, and pure magic don’t just happen — we have to choose them, especially in seasons of loss.
At the start of the year, my 13-year relationship didn’t get the happily ever after I thought I’d signed up for. By March, I felt like Hercules after knocking down everything in the market — forgetting how much strength I actually had.
The office I decorated on Wednesday and unexpectedly left on Thursday.
By Thursday, I unexpectedly lost my job.
I was told it had nothing to do with my skills or performance, that they’d happily write me a recommendation. But I know a Hans when I see one.
That was the part that stung — not just the loss, but the familiarity of it. It was the second time in two years. Between 2023 and 2024, orders had also declined quickly, dropping by half. And while it made perfect sense — when grocery prices climb, home décor isn’t top of mind — it didn’t stop me from wondering some days if I’d lost my spark altogether.
I’ll share more soon about how losing those jobs didn’t define me — and how I sorted through the silence, the feedback, and the lessons from a role that once felt like home. What matters most is that I’ve been doing the work to grow through it, not be crushed by it.
I’ve been retraining my mind to meet change with curiosity instead of fear. Learning to see potential instead of regret has changed everything — the shift feels like light returning after a long storm.
Me at Disney in August — a trip that hurt more than it healed, but reminded me what joy looks like.
That trip hurt more than it healed, and I almost gave up on the magic completely.
It felt like being locked in a tower, waiting for my life to begin. But here’s what I forgot: I already knew how to climb out and start again.
The voice in my head kept saying, “Remember who you are, Moana!” Not really — but something changed. I remembered I was Prince Charming; no one was coming to rescue me but me.
Joy started finding me in unexpected ways — and in one of those moments, I spontaneously booked a two-night stay next week.
This October, which would’ve been my 8-year anniversary, I’m taking a solo trip back to Disney. Not to escape — but to intentionally find joy again.
Coffee has become one of my simplest intentional practices. When I think of the Main Street Bakery, stepping onto the sidewalk with that first sip of cold brew, I’m reminded that magic lives in ordinary moments.
What’s your version of “coffee magic”? That one small ritual that shifts your energy even on the hardest days?
Some Imagination, Huh?
I’ve set a personal challenge: to snap a photo of every Sorcerer Mickey I see and share it in the JRW story. It puts a smile on my face and reminds me of what makes me happy.
I’ve always been drawn to Rapunzel’s kingdom — the purple skies, the floating lanterns. They remind me that even in the darkest moments, we can choose to send out light and believe in something brighter.
My team at my new job — I love dressing up for Superhero Day with them!
A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow
None of this was on my 2025 list. Newly single. Two jobs lost. Rebuilding. But life rarely follows our plans. Sometimes the unplanned paths lead us back to the light we thought we’d lost.
Regret, I’ve realized, is just unfulfilled potential. And potential can be renewed when we choose to seek joy, light, and magic again.
That’s why the words from a favorite park song stay close: “There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day.”
The “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” sign in my living room — a daily reminder that light always returns.
Mine is simple: keep choosing joy, keep seeking light, and keep creating pure magic in the ordinary to live a life of authenticity.
Just A Ray of Light & Magic
This trip is my way of living into that reminder. Choosing joy. Choosing light. Choosing to believe in pure magic again.
I’ll also be sharing more around “being the light” and the practical ways I’ve been retraining my brain to seek joy. If I can inspire just one person to choose themselves, it’s all worth it.
Stay magical, friends. ✨
— Justin Ray ☀️
#JustBeTheLight #JustInLight
Thank You For Reading 💙
As a little thank-you for spending time here — use code JOY15 at checkout for 15% off your next order. It’s my way of sending a little light (and savings) your way. ✨
✨ Next time, I’ll share how losing two jobs didn’t define me — and the surprising lessons I found in starting over.
