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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Gratitude—A Way of Life

Dec 04, 2023 01:18AM ● By Joe Dunne

On this Thanksgiving eve, I’m thinking of the millions of people traveling to celebrate with family, loved ones and friends. We will sit around our tables and profess our gratitude. I have seen this tradition produce surprise and awkward moments, even struggle, just to acknowledge what we are grateful for. It shouldn’t be that hard when you spend time thinking about it. 

There is a saying, “there but for the grace of God, go I”. Living in gratitude allows me the chance to put things in proper perspective, to not be a victim of circumstance, to accept what is and counterbalance my thinking, to center myself.  If one has been blessed with love, life, family, and friends, it’s wise to never forget to be grateful. 

No one will take the money, cars, houses, or jewels with them. I have never heard a person on their death bed say they wish they had gone to the office more or worked harder. There are people in the world burdened with unbearable conditions and circumstances, and nothing inspires me more, humbles me more than when I see them turn the lemon into lemonade. They have this unbelievable mindset of gratitude and acceptance, and sometimes—most times—they are smiling. Think on that for a second. 

Gratitude is something I am very passionate about. I have learned that I need a plan and a few action steps to maintain a positive attitude, to see the good and feel grateful for all that I have. My life is my responsibility, and so is the decision to bring in the good stuff. For that to happen, gratitude is key.

When life gets difficult, when stuff happens, when reality is not the way I want it to be, when pain and suffering are unavoidable, gratitude is the mental path I need to be on. It leads me to acceptance. It pushes me forward. Gratitude delivers the mindset needed to breathe, adjust, and continue when life gets difficult.  

I maintain that practicing gratitude, not just in the holiday season but every day, cannot hurt. In time, practicing gratitude becomes a habit that slowly moves me in inches to contentment and happiness. Gratitude is a way of life. In my eyes, it’s the better alternative. 

As we move into this holiday season of celebration and see our year of 2024 edging ever closer, I propose a movement of everyday gratitude. It’s a good spiritual present to ourselves.

With much gratitude and love,

Joe & Asta Dunne, Publishers

In-Print publisher's letter December 2023
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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