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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

Palo-Santo-Candles

Inching My Way Forward

May 02, 2021 05:12PM ● By Joe Dunne

Once again, as I stare at a blank page, my thoughts begin to race. The questions that form my personal yardstick float up into my mind like a Magic 8-ball.


How often do I smile, worry, frown, fear, think positively, help others?  

How often do I gossip, judge, think about helping others?

How often do I pray, express gratitude, go out of my way to help others?

When is it time to be active in community, volunteer and help others?

When will hugging come back?


Why does litter bother me so much?

Doesn’t repurposing stuff make sense?

What happened to good manners?

With nanosecond technology, has patience become a lost art? 

Why is blame considered normal and accepted by so many?


Thinking positive is a decision and a practice—what a great habit!

Wait stands for “Why Am I Talking”. I need to follow that, and practice “wait”.

Listening is a really important skill set.


How much peace and contentment do I have in my life? 

What makes me happy? What do I appreciate the most?

How much do I pay attention to my emotional health?


Do I take enough time to relax and enjoy my life?

Do I express my love enough?

Do I truly acknowledge my feelings?


The ever-shifting answers to these questions help me see my progress as I inch my way into becoming a better human. Some days I do better than others, but so far, so good.


With peace, love and laughter,


Joe Dunne

Publisher

In-Print publisher's letter May 2021
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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