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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Learning Through Life

My holiday season has been filled with family gatherings and new resolutions—plus conversations about how fast you go from age 15 to 50. With that fresh in my mind, I’ve spent some time reflecting on my own life but also on the journey ahead for my son. He’s hunting for college; fearing, I assume, the unknown, and looking into the abyss of growing up. 

By age 17, my own journey had taken me from the street life of Brooklyn to Taipei, Taiwan, courtesy of military service. Those two years in Taiwan mesmerized me with new experiences, new cultures and learning just how big life is. By age 24, I was married and a father of two, and for the next ten years, there was nothing any book, any professor, any one person could help me with. Life was my teacher. And sometimes Life handed me a punch in the face. I never got use to that punch, but then, I never knew that I needed it. Which leads me to this point—Life is the greatest teacher and paying attention to the moment is the key. Accepting it all—the ups, the downs, the mistakes, the rewards, the people, the experiences, the friends, the challenges—they are all part of our instruction, and in some cases, tests to help us become who we are and can be. I only wish I learned how to pay attention a little earlier.

Life does go by fast. If you’re as lucky as me, then 50 quickly goes to 75. Now my teaching is a little easier. The punch is a tap, the moments are miracles, each breath is a gift, and humility has taken over ego (though not totally). You realize that life is good, love is breathtaking, kindness and giving is a gift to myself.  

Life has taught me to live in the moment, as best I can, experience the possibilities, dream the dreams, take risks (safe ones), be there for others, to make gratitude a cornerstone of thinking, to live with integrity, make good decisions, and embrace love no matter what. I still have lots to learn and chapters to write, so as we enter into the new decade I hope everyone will pay more attention to self because life has taught me that my life, my happiness and my path is my responsibility. And that is a good thing.

In love, peace and laughter,

Joe Dunne


In-Print publisher's letter new years
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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