November 2022

A MOMENT WITH

A TIME TO BE THANKFUL

November is National Gratitude Month, a time to celebrate and give thanks.

National Gratitude Month was an initiative introduced by renowned author, Stacey Grewal, who believed that gratitude was an essential ingredient to living a rewarding life. When an individual embraces gratitude, he or she instantly shifts their focus from the negative to the positive things in their lives.

Incidentally, Thanksgiving also occurs in the month of November. Thanksgiving is a day where many people take the time to think about what they are thankful for. Whether it is something they do quietly for themselves or around a table with loved ones, it is a time of year for reflecting on what we are grateful for.

The word gratitude is derived from the Latin root gratia, meaning grace, graciousness, or gratefulness. All derivatives from this Latin root refers to kindness, generousness, gifts, the beauty of giving and receiving or getting something from nothing. This means that the object of gratitude is others-oriented and that gratitude stems from the perception of a positive personal outcome, not necessarily derived or earned, that is due to the actions of another person.

Gratitude is an affirmation of goodness in the world. It results from a two-step cognitive process: Number one, recognizing that one has obtained a positive outcome, and number two, recognizing that there is an external source for this positive outcome.

Please understand that gratitude is more than simply saying “thank you.” The amazing powers of gratitude can shift us from focusing on the negative to appreciating the positive things in our lives. Practicing gratitude daily, gives us a deeper connection to ourselves, the world around us, and to our Creator.

Allow me to say that everything that occurs in our lives can improve when we are grateful. Research has shown that gratitude has the tendency to enhance our moods, decrease stress, and significantly improve our entire measures of health and wellbeing. Typically, grateful individuals tend to develop fewer stress-related illnesses. They experience less depression and lowered blood pressure; they are happier, enjoy a higher income, possess a considerable number of satisfying personal and professional relationships, and are exceedingly admired.

It is important to express thankfulness when something good happens. Being thankful is not inherently bad. It is part of showing appreciation to others for your good fortune. We are thankful when we secure new employment or meet a new friend; however, thankfulness is insufficient to maintain a positive mindset. I think I should inform you that setbacks and other situations or things we are most certainly not thankful for, will always interfere with our thankfulness. Because of this, we must rely on other ways to maintain a positive attitude. One such way is by expressing gratitude. By choosing to pursue gratitude in our lives, we are actively improving our health and well-being.

A study conducted by the University of California at Berkeley suggests that gratitude may be associated with many benefits for individuals, including improved physical and psychological health, increased happiness and life satisfaction, decreased materialism, and more.

Gratitude is about being content physically and mentally with the state of your life. You may not always be happy, but you can nonetheless practice gratitude. In fact, the same study from Berkely asserts that practicing gratitude is not only good for you but also for your relationships.

The study further reveals that gratitude is important to

SHERIFF BROWN

forming and maintaining social relationships. When an individual engages with someone and expresses gratitude for him or her, that individual is more likely to express gratitude in return.

As stated previously, the expression of gratitude is what assists us in forming new relationships and strengthening our current ones. Studies have shown the positive effect of relationships on our emotional well-being, and it is a supplementary benefit of practicing gratitude.

Gratitude is one of many positive emotions. It is about focusing on what is good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have. Gratitude is pausing to notice and appreciate the things we often take for granted. For example, having a place to live, food, hygienic water, friends, family, and even computer technology access.

Oftentimes, I hear people asking the question: What is the difference between being thankful and grateful?

Thankfulness is an emotion, and gratitude is an attitude of appreciation under any circumstance. Gratitude involves being thankful, but it is more than that. Gratitude means expressing thankfulness and being appreciative of daily life, even when nothing exciting occurs.

Although gratitude and thankfulness are closely related, gratitude provides one with a longer-lasting feeling of satisfaction and improved well-being. Practicing gratitude has proven to offer many benefits to individuals.

Self-help books author, Melody Beattie, describes grati tude this way: She says, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, and confusion into clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Gratitude is an important part of preserving a healthy psychological outlook, but it is closely related to thankful ness. What many people fail to realize is being thankful and practicing gratitude are quite different.

We all grew up being instructed to be grateful, and to say “Thank You,” when someone was charitable toward us. It became comfortable for us to use these terms interchangeably, but what we have now learned is that thankfulness and gratitude are not synonyms.

Thankfulness involves how we feel in the moment, and like all feelings, eventually, it wanes. Thankfulness is a temporary emotional response to a temporary circumstance. For example, when something good or exciting transpires, it is easy to be thankful. We appreciate the warm feelings that come with gifts or blissful news.

In closing this message, I want to encourage you to do the following: Be thankful for life, spend time in nature and with your family, breathe deeply, let go of your worries, forgive yourself and others, and build your life around what you love. Be thankful for waking up healthy each day, be thankful for excellent hearing and vision, , be grateful for the clothes you have, be thankful for the food on your table, be thankful for the roof over your head, and be thankful for a good night’s sleep.

RAs for me, I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirit, and the voice of hope that says, all things are possible, if you only believe.

Sheriff Ezell Brown Newton County, Georgia

about the agency

The goal of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office is “to be recognized as the kind of professional organization that values, respects, and honors the rights and dignity of the entire community. Through an abundance of collaborative efforts, the NCSO is committed to improving life in every aspect for its citizens, businesses, schools, colleges/universities and visitors.”

The Newton County Sheriff's Office is located at 15151 Alcovy Road in Covington, Georgia. From I-20, take Exit 92 onto Alcovy Road and travel north on Alcovy Road for approximately one mile and cross over Highway 142. The Sheriff's Office will be on the left.

The administrative office hours for the Newton County Sheriff's Office are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding county holidays.

The Newton County Jail is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

agency ’ s contact numbers

NCSO GRADUATES SIX INMATE RESIDENTS FROM ITS Residential Substance Abuse Treatment PROGRAM

On November 10, 2022, Sheriff Ezell Brown and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office graduated six inmate residents from its Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program in a ceremony held inside the agency’s training room.

Sheriff Brown, who was accompanied by Detention Capt. Brice Smith and the RSAT facilitators, awarded the certificates of completion to the following graduates: Diann Parris, Evelyn Anderson, Stacey Haymore, Melinda Farr, Eric Willis, and Christopher Ashby. Each graduate also received a gift from Sheriff Brown in recognition of their accomplishments.

“The Office of the Sheriff stands firm on the belief of rehabilitation, as its the key to success for individuals returning to society as productive citizens. The inmate residents who go through the months-long RSAT program are provided with the tools to live a productive life upon return to society,” said Sheriff Brown. “I realize it does not take just one individual to help these inmate residents; it takes a collective body to ensure each inmate resident is successful during and after the completion of the program. Because of that, I want to thank my staff and all facilitators for going above and beyond to ensure these individuals are successful in their future endeavors.”

The RSAT program provides inmate residents the opportunity for rehabilitation while incarcerated at the Newton County Detention Center. The three-month to six-month program is designated to help individuals develop cognitive, behavioral, social, vocational, and other skills to solve substance abuse-related problems.

NCSO HOSTS ITS ANNUAL TOY RIDE FOR CHRISTMAS

On November 12, 2022, Sheriff Ezell Brown and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office hosted its annual Toy Ride at The Church Covington in Oxford, Georgia, an initiative to raise funds and receive toy donations for families in need of assistance during the holiday season.

“I express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the businesses, organizations, and individuals — especially my staff — who contributed their time and efforts to this year’s Toy Ride,” said Sheriff Brown. “Without you, we could not have succeeded in reaching our goals. I am forever grateful.”

More than 80 motorcycle riders attended this year’s Toy Ride, making it a successful holiday event following its two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the law enforcement-led escort around the Newton County community, the motorcycle riders and their families gathered inside The Church Covington to enjoy the raffle, food, and fellowship.

The sponsors for the 2022 Toy Ride are David J. McGinnis, Jr.; WM. Thomas Craig, LLC; Emory B Craig & Megan Sutton Craig; Frank Hutcheson; Sellars Motor, Inc.; Foxworth Tree Service, LLC; Ginn Chevrolet; LongHorn Steakhouse (Covington); Precision Automotive; Covington Ford; Michelin; Chancey’s Wrecker Service; Universal Planning; Bell’s Discount Grocery; Mike’s Tire Depot; Falcons Fury Harley Davidson; Ace Hardware; Chick-Fil-A; Advance Auto Sports; The Home Depot; O’Reilly Auto Parts; Wheeler Funeral Home; Mamie’s Kitchen Biscuits (Hwy 278 and Brown Bridge Road); Bridgestone Golf; Lester Lackey & Sons Funeral Home; Hill Top Towing, Inc.; Young-Levett Funeral Home; Kings 24-Hour Towing; Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home; K-2 Towing; Dunkin Donuts; and Dairy Queen.

SHERIFF BROWN SWEARS IN NEWLY-HIRED EMPLOYEES

On November 16, 2022, Sheriff Ezell Brown administered the Oath of Office to four newly-hired employees in a ceremony held within the Newton County Sheriff’s Office Training Room.

LEADERSHIP NEWTON TOURS THE NEWTON COUNTY JAIL

Leadership Newton County (LNC) visited the Newton County Sheriff’s Office for “Public Safety Day” on November 17, 2022. Upon their arrival at the NCSO, LNC class members were served breakfast and greeted by Sheriff Ezell Brown in the First Responders Cafe, followed by a tour of the Newton County Detention Center.

WELCOME Newly Hired Employees

Sheriff Ezell Brown and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office welcome you!

Elizabeth Myers Administrative Tech

Lashina McKay Detention Officer

Nicholas Anderson Detention Officer