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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Seeing What's Good

Thank you for being a reader. I hope you enjoy our March publication of Natural Awakenings.

I find myself wanting to write about the injustice of things—the penal system, gun control, blame, closed-minded people, war, violence, inequality, inappropriate behavior, prejudices and our education system—and then there’s health care and veterans’ rights. Thankfully, our magazine is not part of “the world of what’s wrong.” Seeing the problem is so easy. Want proof? Turn on a TV, a talk radio station, a political cable broadcast, the news… Everyone, it seems, has an opinion on what is wrong.

I’m proud that we are a solution magazine, a common-sense publication that chooses to see the good in everything. We strive to focus on what is right. Where change is needed, we look for new and positive ways to get there. In the coming year, I hope to bring so much more of that into our pages. Through awareness and educational articles, inspirational stories and new informative categories, we will bring you more of the good stuff. A new teen corner is in the works, along with a holistic mom column and a whole lot more of “good” to ponder.

Our magazines are dedicated to our readers’ interests. Your thoughts, your stories and your interests inspire every change we make. Text us, email us or call and let us know what we are doing well, along with what you would like to see improved. Trust me, we pay attention.

I am so lucky that, through our magazine, I have been granted a platform to encourage others—to talk of peace, love, kindness, personal growth, community, serving others, friendship, good health, nutrition, respect, becoming a steward for our planet, family, spirit and the dignity of life. I believe that when we see what is good, there is little time to see what is wrong.

Let me close with a few of my daily reminders. Do something good. Inspire someone. Make a difference. Be a kid. Smile. In all ways, create with good intention.

Joe Dunne,

Publisher

publisher's letter
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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