Friday Free For All!

Published on by Jan Sikes

Happy Friday, y’all!! this will most likely be my last Friday post for a while. The grandkids get out of school next Thursday, and my days will be filled with taking care of them.

I saw this on Facebook and thought it was worth sharing.

I don’t know about you, but I am pretty fed up with others trying to force their opinions on me. We are all individuals, and each has the right to see and feel however we do about any given subject. That’s not to say we can’t change our minds, but if you are like me, I want it to be my choice, not because someone forced me.

Just a little something to keep in mind.

The holiday season is here. I still have a few gifts to buy and to create, but I’m getting there. It may sound sad, but since I live alone and no one comes to my apartment, I no longer decorate for the holidays. However, I certainly do enjoy seeing them everywhere I go. This is the tree I get to enjoy daily at my youngest daughter’s house.

The same daughter had to undergo a tenuous surgery this week, and she is down for the count. I spent all day Monday with her at the hospital. The surgery lasted for a little over three hours. She is home and recovering, but it’s going to be a long road. She needs Mama’s help a lot right now, although she is much like me and fiercely independent. I don’t wait for her to ask. I do what I see that needs doing and anything to make things easier for her.

Folks, stay aware and alert this holiday season, as scammers are everywhere trying to take your money! I ordered some items through an ad I saw, and when they arrived, they were defective. I contacted the company (thank goodness there was a phone number listed) and asked how I could return them for a refund. They refused to accept a return. Instead, they offered me 70% of my money back, and I keep the items. What?? Yep. I had no choice. It was either accept the 70% or lose it all. My sister got taken with a scam, too. So, just be vigilant and keep an eye on your money. It’s a crazy world out there.

On a good note, I got to experience laying on a Red Light therapy table today. Ever heard of it? I hadn’t until recently, but I’m interested. Here’s what it looks like.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Red light therapy (RLT) is a treatment that uses low-wavelength red light to reportedly improve your skin’s appearance, such as reducing wrinkles, scars, redness, and acne. It’s also touted to treat other medical conditions. NASA originally began experimenting with red light therapy on plant growth in space and then to help heal wounds in astronauts. Red light therapy is thought to work by acting on the “power plant” in your body’s cells called mitochondria. With more energy, other cells can do their work more efficiently, such as repairing skin, boosting new cell growth, and enhancing skin rejuvenation. More specifically, certain cells absorb light wavelengths and are stimulated to work.

So, we’ll see. It is said to also reduce inflammation in the body and even improve eyesight in some cases.

I’m always open to trying new holistic ways of staying healthy and feeling good. I’ll let you know how it goes.

On a different note, Goodreads tells me I am two books away from reaching my reading goal of 95 books for 2022. One thing I do know for sure—it is going to be extremely difficult to pick a top ten list for this year. I have read SO many great books that still linger with me long after I close them. But I will give it a good try. So that will be coming up in the next few weeks.

If you missed my Christmas Story at Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord Blog, I’d love for you to visit and read it. I wrote it in 2016 and revived it to share at Sally’s place. HANDS

If you aren’t following Sally’s blog, I highly recommend you do so while you are visiting. She is a generous supporter of all authors.

Also, if you haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy of my newest book, Saddled Hearts, OR if you’re looking for a gift, here’s the link to take a look: https://linktr.ee/Rijanjks

That’s it from me for today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

This won’t be my last opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas, but I’m going to wish it anyway. It’s been an interesting year with lots of adventures. And it isn’t over yet!

53 thoughts on “Friday Free For All!”

  1. Wow! I’d never heard of that red light therapy Jan, thanks for the info. Glad your daughter is on the mend. And like you, no Christmas tree for me, year 2. It still feels so very strange, as I loved Christmas since a child and always had a tree from the day I moved away from home. Life changes. Holiday hugs to you. ❤

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    1. You are right, Debby. Life changes, and all we can do is change with it. I am super excited about the red light therapy and have another session scheduled in the morning. Thank you for visiting! Hugs to you too, my friend!

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    1. Thank you so much, Diana. I agree that Paul Coelho is a wise teacher. I appreciate the good wishes for both my daughter and for the holiday filled with joy and peace. I wish you the same, my friend!

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  7. The tree is really beautiful, Sister. I love it! I’ve never heard about the red light table. Let me know how it does you. Hope it helps your spine. Love you.

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    1. Thank you, sister. I don’t know that the red light table can do anything to help with the spine, but since it works on a cellular level, who knows. I’ll definitely let you know. I appreciate you visiting and leaving a comment! Love you!

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  8. Your daughter is lucky to have you close by. I hope she recovers sufficiently to enjoy the holidays, they’re the best with little kids!
    Red light therapy sounds interesting, but I’m not sure about that bed, lol
    Happy holidays, my friend ❤

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    1. Thank you for the good wishes for my daughter’s recovery. I agree. The holidays are the best with little kids. Lol! Yep. The bed reminds me of the old tanning beds we used to visit to do harmful things to our skin. I appreciate you visiting and leaving a comment!

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  9. Hi Jan, I am sorry your daughter needed surgery. I am glad you can help her. Michael had two 3-hour operations in the last 8 weeks so I know how they know you for six – the anesthetic, the pain, and the recovery. Wishing her all the very best.

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  10. Glad your daughter is on the mend now and has your help! What an incredibly beautiful tree 🙂 i have never heard of red light, I will be interested to hear about your experience. Anything to cut down on inflammation! What a strange return policy just to keep it but get only 70 percent back. I guess they don’t return shipping and handling but not a company I would do business with again. I agree it is hard to pick the best reads, I struggle with my quarterly picks. Congrats on 95 books read, I was up there too. It was a good reading year. Enjoy your family time. Hugs xo

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    1. Thank you, Denise. I appreciate the well wishes for my daughter. Yes, I will definitely let you know my experience with the red light table. I love to experiment. 🙂 I agree about the sketchy company. Never again. As much as I hate to love it, Amazon is the easiest to do business with, as returns are easy and never questioned. It’s going to be tough to pick only 10 books out of the ones I’ve read. I will have to choose according to how the book affected me. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  12. What a wonderful post. I feel UTD and you sparked my curious mind at times. I don’t decorate either. My kids live across the country and I’m not into parties! Love that massive tree of your daughters. Can I adopt it, too? I do hope she’s feeling better and of course you are there to help her!

    And of course I read your new book! Horses, cowboy hats, ranches–who wouldn’t?? Best to you this holiday, Jan!

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    1. Awww, thank you, Jacqui! I’m so glad you enjoyed Saddled Hearts! Thank you for the good thoughts about my daughter’s healing. Yes, you can share the joy of the tree for sure! I love getting to enjoy their decorating and their fur babies. 🙂 Than I go home to my little sanctuary. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  14. Sending out healing prayers and light for your daughter’s recovery, Jan. And additional strength for you, too. 🙂 Interesting about the red light. You’ll definitely have to share any results with us. Happy Holidays! xoxo

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    1. Oh, I love that, Annette. Thanks for chiming in about the red light therapy lamp. I may look into something like that when my experiment with the table ends. 🙂 Thank you for the health wishes for my daughter! Hugs!

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  22. Hi,
    I don’t like people forcing their opinions on me. That’s why freedom of speech so important to me.
    I have your book and believe me, I hope to read it during my Christmas break. Also as a single woman, I don’t decorate for Christmas either but I enjoy seeing it in the homes I am invited to. I do however have an Advent Wreath on my table and I light a candle every Sunday during the Advent Season.
    I will pray for your daughter, that she heals well and continues to achieve those things she desires to achieve.
    Finally, I wish you a blessed Merry Christmas.
    Take care of yourself and have a safe and healthy crossover into 2023.
    Shalom aleichem

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    1. Oh, what a wonderful thing to do with the Advent Wreath, Patricia. I love that so much! I may think about something like that for next year. Thank you for the good wishes for my daughter. Our hope is that she regains full use of her hand. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment today! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  23. I’m glad your daughter’s surgery went well and wish her a speedy recovery. The red light therapy sounds intriguing. I’ll be interested to see how that goes for you. Seasons greetings to you and yours, Jan. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs 💕🙂

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    1. Thanks, Harmony. I appreciate the good wishes for my daughter. Yes, I’ll have to keep you posted on the red light therapy. Who knows? At least it isn’t harmful. Have a great weekend! Hugs back!

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    1. Thank you for the good wishes, Sally. Yes, I am intrigued by red light therapy. It was interesting to find that NASA has experimented with it. I am happy to mention your wonderful blog and can highly recommend it to authors everywhere! Have a great weekend! Hugs!

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