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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

Palo-Santo-Candles

The Cheerleader Within

Jun 30, 2021 08:02PM ● By Joe Dunne

No matter how hard I try to organize, simplify and structure my life for accuracy and efficiency, I never reach the “aha moment”. Life is complicated, as Scott Peck points out in his bestselling book The Road Less Traveled, one of my favorite reads.

Relationships are complicated; parenting is difficult; business is an ongoing challenge. Running a household with all the moving parts of finance, maintenance, shuffling (taxi service) kids around (if you fall into that category) and somehow squeezing in a social life. Yes, life can be complicated. Top that off with taking care of oneself. Achieving optimum health feels like a full-time job. Commitment to daily routines of meditation, exercise, eating right, visits to our health care practitioners, serving others. I could go on and on, and I’m sure you could add in a few lists of your own. When I look at this on paper, I already feel exhausted. “Time (as the say) takes time.”  

So, how do I get from where I am to where I want to be? I believe, in part, the key is my inner thinking. Do I give myself points for what I have accomplished, or do I beat myself up for what I did not accomplish? Do I ever give myself a break and express self-compassion and lighten up on myself? Have I ever considered being my best cheerleader rather than my biggest critic? 

We do a lot, but do we acknowledge it, pat ourselves on the back and take a humble bow for all that we contribute? For all the small, but necessary, tasks we do, for the time and sacrifices we make for ourselves, our families and others, should we not look within and acknowledge our worth? I think we should.  

Self-compassion, forgiveness and acceptance go hand-in-hand.  When we add in a positive attitude and positive thinking, life is less difficult.


In peace, love and laughter,


Joe Dunne

Publisher


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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