As we move into the fall season, we encourage you to take time to rest and reflect. Resting your mind and body can help you re-connect to the wisdom and joy inside of you! Rest from your busy tasks and allow your mind to wander. Consider using nature and your senses to help your mind wander and help you re-connect to memories -- maybe it’s the crunch of leaves as you walk, the feel of a cool breeze on your face, or watching leaves fall like raindrops. Reflection can be a purposeful exercise to look back and learn from an experience, such as the use of reflective writing, or it can be taking time to simply immerse yourself in a memory and re-experience a joyful experience. What reflections can you carry into your coming days?

By changing the way we grasp the concept of time, we can take back control of our time. Daniel will discuss the importance of appreciating the day of rest as an opportunity for reflection and contemplation on time and life, a topic often missed in today's modern, fast passed lifestyle. Daniel Rubin, originally from Los Angeles, CA, is a 3rd year bachelor student at the Honors School of Psychology at IDC Herzliya. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

This month we want to highlight those who showed support and appreciation by using Kudos in their work place. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication Officer Maddox, Rebecca Gwirtz and Brian Thomas.

Officer Maddox

Licking County Sheriff's Office

Officer Maddox assisted Licking County Children Services with speaking to a youth who was in crisis. The situation could have gone south quickly, Officer Maddox was compassionate with this individual and was able to get him to comply without force. Thank you Officer Maddox!! We Appreciate you!

Nominated by: Laura Keenan

Rebecca Gwirtz

National Youth Advocate Program

Becca, thank you for being a phenomenal community partner in supporting so many Licking County families. Your attention to detail, effective communication, patience, and wonderful sense of humor is so appreciated. You go above and beyond in making sure families’ voices are heard and needs are met. You create opportunities for families to advocate for themselves and your thoughtfulness throughout difficult times provides comfort for families giving them the strength to persevere.

Nominated by: Melanie Fling & Heather Berry

Brian Thomas

Truancy Officer at Newark City Schools

Thank you so very much to Truancy Officer Brian Thomas for your amazingly quick response in providing needed information. You received a request July 13th after 6:00 pm for details regarding a truancy situation and responded by email before 8:00 pm on the same day with information needed. This information was pivotal to be shared with family members caring for a child - and we were so thankful for your quick response to the request. We wanted to ensure that you are recognized for your concern for collaboration and service to support this youth and family. You are much appreciated, thank you from all of us.

Nominated by: Rebecca Gwirtz

The S.O.S Committee will be holding drawings for gift card prizes to those who submit their Kudos for our newsletter. Please consider supporting your fellow community members by using the Kudos file below to create a note for those who deserve encouragement, acknowledgement and thanks.

Ashley Washburn is accompanied by her daughter and a friend to complete their Halloween costumes.

Reading and writing poetry can be utterly transformative—at it’s best it reflects the voice of the soul, creating room for a place where the imagination can run free. Poetry creates a space for those who need to be seen and heard, allowing us to tap into our own unique authentic voice. We hope the reading recommendation listed below inspires you to reflect and restore in holiday months to come. Happy Reading!

Throughout history, poets have felt the ancient pull of the sea, exploring the full range of mankind’s nautical fears, dreams, and longings. The colorful legends of the sea–pirates and mermaids, phantom ships and the sunken city of Atlantis–have inspired as many imaginations as have the realities of lighthouses and shipwrecks, of icebergs and frothing foam and seaweed. This marvelous collection includes classics old and new, from Homer and Milton to Plath and Merwin.

Many people worry that they will be unable to write reflectively but chances are that you do it more than you think! It's a common task during both work and study from appraisal and planning documents to recording observations at the end of a module. The following pages will guide you through some simple techniques for reflective writing as well as how to avoid some of the most common pitfalls.

Whenever I'm feeling stressed I go to the house of mirrors...

I find it's a really great place to reflect.

Why do vampires make the same mistakes over and over again?

Because they lack reflection.

Today I saw a baby ghost...

Upon reflection, it might have been a handkerchief.

Just recently, a multi-year project to renovate and restore London's historic landmark Big Ben was completed.

They had men working around the clock.

You can be an SOS contributor! Planning for our winter edition, “Winter- A time to Rest and Rejoice” is underway! Please submit a photo of you with your favorite gift. This could be a photo of you as a child or more recent! You can also contribute by submitting a kudos!

Often we are covered with wisdom and wit, and oft with a cloth where the dinner guests sit; in beauty around you and over your head, we are countless, though numbered when bound to be read. What are we?

• Members: Sylvia Friel, Kay Spergel, Kelsey Weisenstein, Ronni Bowyer, Ashley Washburn, Tiffany Myers, Kathleen Burkhard, Jennifer Kasson, Courtney Stires and Brittany Collins.

Committee Email Contact: Sylvia.friel@jfs.ohio.gov