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Welcome to My Mental Landmarks

May 09, 2025 09:28AM ● By Jerome Bilaos

As I sit staring at a blank screen, a stream of consciousness kicks in. Most of the time, it’s a flowing reminder of all that I’ve learned...and need to remember...that reflects the landmarks on my life’s journey. I offer here a small window into the road signs that decorate my mental pathways. 

Listening to me is dangerous. Taking good advice and giving good advice are two separate things. I must remember that. Over the years I have heard but not always followed: good advice.

Eat for nutrition and good health. 

Sleep enough, meditate, relax, cut stress, hydrate, spend time reflecting, adjust and accept life as delivered.

Find balance. Be kind. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Be grateful, help others, do the right thing, find self-honesty. 

Examine my motives. Judge not. Develop empathy or be more empathetic. 

Slight pause here to digest the above.

Show respect to be respected. Develop trust with your actions. 

Be present. Smile a lot. Model the parent you want your children to become. 

Become your own hero. Be confident, not arrogant.

Support Love. Forgive myself. Forgive others. Forgive everyone. Resent not.

Speak up for myself, recognize my human right to say no, to change my mind. Work to understand ourselves and others.

Get out of my shoes, my head, my ego and try to fit into your shoes, as you see things. If I truly want to understand, then listen actively. Shut up sometimes. Turn down the noise, go for a walk in nature, hug more, love more, judge less.

Remember that problems and solutions lie within. Do not blame or shame. Do not be a victim, the responsibility for my life is mine. 

Be good, be kind, see the good, in everyone, pick someone up, create an act of kindness, be the best version of yourself you can be. Cherish life, it is not guaranteed.

Everything written above has great value for me. It is not always easy; the process of always doing good is a work of art and a gift from above. As a life lesson, my ego is my biggest battle. Fortunately, humility nurtures the soul.

With love, peace and laughter,

Joe and Asta Dunne, Publishers
In-Print, Inspiration publisher's letter May 2025
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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