Wednesday WORDS!

Published on by Jan Sikes

Welcome to a new series where I will share words from written works or words that intrigue me.

I love words. I love word games and play way too many for good time management. But they fascinate me and always have. My favorite board game growing up was Scrabble. What fun it was to try and get the most points and create words from nothing. Wordle gives me that same feeling when I manage to create the right word.

But all that aside, for this series, I will be sharing either an excerpt from something I’m reading or a new word I’ve just learned. Not every post will be serious. We’ll have some fun along the way, too. I don’t know if I will be able to post weekly, but will shoot for every other week for sure.

I don’t care much for fancy words. I care for honest words that move something inside me.

To start off the series, I’m going to share some words from my late husband, Rick Sikes.

Rick Sikes 1976 Springfield, Missouri Federal Medical Prison

As most of you know, he was quite the artist, not only with painting and drawing but also with words. This is taken from a piece he wrote in November, 1977. Keep in mind he had been in prison for over five years at this point and, prior to incarceration, was a country band leader, musician, and songwriter from the oilfields of West Texas. Where he obtained this kind of esoteric insight, I’ll never know. He didn’t talk about it.

“There is nothing like knowledge. The unending flow of imaginative, creative use of that knowledge enriches our lives and helps us to understand ourselves at a much deeper level. All of us regard the world through lenses put there by individual upbringing, personal disposition, and such. While we may look upon identical objects and situations, our views will be very different and from varied perspectives.

There exists a cosmic energy that we can harness by entering the astral plane, thus bridging the gap between our earthly body and our ethereal self…” Rick Sikes (8-5-35 to 5-1-09)

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

44 thoughts on “Wednesday WORDS!”

  1. I’d say Rick had great insight and wisdom. I like the idea for this new series, Jan. Sorry, this past month has been crazy busy (started an AutoCAD course) so I’m way behind with all things writing.

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    1. Oh, how I love your takeaway, Jacqui! And you are exactly right. In fact, a PhD might be a hindrance. 🙂 Thank you for your lovely comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! I keep toying with the idea of putting Rick’s writings together in book form. Maybe…

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      1. I looked into a PhD program once–even got accepted–but you have to learn that funny way they speak. Nope!

        Your Rick sounds like he had an interesting, full life. A book might be just the thing.

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  3. Jan, I love this new series and it will be an instant hit with so many of us. What a grand start with these fabulous thoughts from Rick. His insight and wisdom shine through – his words striking right to our hearts and mind. I can feel that cosmic energy! xx

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    1. I’m so glad you are interested in the new series, Annika, and I’m glad you enjoyed Rick’s words of wisdom. The cosmic energy swirls around us, and it’s exhilarating when we can feel it! Thank you for your comment!

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  5. Rick sure had a way with words, Jan. I especially loved this quote “While we may look upon identical objects and situations, our views will be very different and from varied perspectives.” So very true.

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  6. For someone who didn’t like fancy words, Jan, Rick was eloquent and insightful. What beautiful quotes. Thanks for sharing them. I forgot to play wordle this morning. Guess where I’m going next? Lol. Have a wonderful day with words, my friend.

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  7. Jan, Rick was certainly a wordsmith. To think and feel so many words is great, but to pare all that down and fit in a few rhyming verses is genius. I’m still trying to wrap my head around . . . “by entering the astral plane, thus bridging the gap between our earthly body and our ethereal self . . .” Wow!

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    1. I totally am with you, Linda. I was married to Rick for 25 years and knew him for over forty. But when I read things like this that he wrote, I realize I never really knew him completely. I’m getting more acquainted through his writing. If only I could go back in time knowing what I know today… Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment!

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  9. Words can be powerful, they affect us in a positive and negative way. Rick’s wisdom is shining through his words Jan and I agree! Perspectives are influenced by upbringing and may I add – peer group. Thanks for sharing such enlightening thoughts.

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  10. Love finding new words, Jan! What a great new series. What a powerful truth to Rick’s writing you shared here. At least in my humble opinion. 🙂

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  11. Wow, Rick’s quotes are very profound. I remember what a deep thinker he was. Of course, he didn’t share things like this with too many people. Going to your house for a visit was like entering a whole different world. I felt very attuned to spiritual, deeper things. I love dictionaries published before 1970 with old, long-forgotten words. One recently to draw my attention is Chicanery. I love that love that no one uses any more. I’m going to love this new blog post, Sister.

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    1. I am amazed at some of his earlier writing I’ve found, sister. I’m contemplating putting them together in a book, but don’t know if it would be worth the effort. He certainly was good at hiding his true thoughts. I love the old dictionaries too, and have a couple. Maybe I’ll randomly pick a word from one for the next post. 🙂 Chicanery…I had to go look it up. 🙂 Tricky! Thank you for visiting. Love you!

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  12. Hi, Jan,
    I love Rick’s words here. I don’t see them as esoteric. I never knew him, but I think he began to grasp the importance of life and deep down within him life began to rise.
    I like your new series. I love words and I love to play scrabble.
    Shalom aleichem

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    1. You are exactly right, Pat, when you say that he began to grasp the importance of life, while deep down within him, life started to rise like the Phoenix from the ashes. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you’ll enjoy the series!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Joan. Yes, we share a love of words. I have no idea how Rick gained the wisdom and insight he did, but I do know it took locking him behind bars to find it. I appreciate your comment!

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  16. What a great theme for your new series, Jan. I love the quote about knowledge and our personal lens. Rick was a wise and talented man. I look forward to what’s to come. 😊

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    1. My pleasure, Jill. Where he gained his wisdom, I have no idea. It wasn’t his environment or upbringing. I think his guides and angels were working with him on a deep level. Thanks for stopping by!

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    1. It’s so true, Yvette. Just as our fingerprints are all unique, so are our viewpoints. I love that you teach that to your students. They may not get it right now, but later, they’ll remember what you taught them. Thank you for stopping by! Hugs!

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  20. What a great idea for a blog series, Jan — and an excellent way to kick it off with an excerpt from Rick’s writings. I love the idea of each of us looking at the world through our own “lens.” It’s wonderful that you still have Rick’s writings to treasure!

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    1. You’re right, Mae. I have a treasure trove of Rick’s writings and often consider putting them together into a book. Maybe I’ll do that one day. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! Hugs!

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