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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

Palo-Santo-Candles

Living In The Moment

May 01, 2023 09:03PM ● By Joe Dunne

Once again, my talent for procrastination in writing my publisher’s letter has led me to wander from room to room in my house in search of inspiration before finally landing in our backyard deck. 

   As I sit here listening to the wind chimes and birdsong while watching the leaves and trees dance in the breeze, the sense of inner peace and contentment from being in the moment allows me to smile. It is funny how quickly removing interference and noise allows the stillness to come in and calm me.  

I wish it were quieter, but that is just life happening. I make the effort to digest the noise and absorb it as it is. As I focus on thinking and writing, the noise disappears on its own, and just seems to go away someplace. 

This moment with few distractions reminds me, once again, of the miracle of life and living. Perhaps there is something in the interconnectedness of the planets, the stars in the heavens, the rotation of our world, the pathways and order of our universe that humbles me. It reminds me of the gift I have been given. To say I am alive, participating and part of something much bigger than I can imagine reminds me to stay the right size and enjoy it all, every minute, every day.  

It calls on me to focus on what is important, which is also always simple. To focus on the good, be part of the good, be kinder, appreciate more, give, grow, hug and love, life, people, planet. To remember I am not as important as I think I am. For proof, I have only to look around to see the miracles happening all the time without my help. But I also need to remember that I’m also more loved than I’ll ever know. And that’s humbling too.

Life has taught me that the quality of my life is in direct proportion to my thinking. Today, right here, right now in a quiet moment, life is good.


With peace, love and laughter,

Joe Dunne

In-Print publisher's letter May 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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