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Publisher’s Letter

Aug 01, 2025 12:27AM ● By Jerome Bilaos

It was 38 years ago this July that I entered recovery, and AA saved my life. 

One of the first messages I learned was that fixing me is and will always be an inside job. They said, “The answer to your dilemma is simple: Look in the mirror. All the problems and solutions are right in front of you. It is up to you to change.”

Yikes, I did not want to hear that. But everything else I’d tried had led me to this place. So, it was time to go forward.   

The first and most important step was to stay clean. As long as I did that, I had a chance to go to step two.

Second, strive to become a better person, husband, father, friend, etc. Also, take the time to appreciate myself…what I have accomplished or improved in actions, and more importantly, in my thinking. As they say, the quality of life is in direct proportion to the quality of thinking.   

So, this month, I want to share a few of my “check-in with myself “questions. I hold these in mind frequently, but during my anniversary month they become louder.  

Am I happier this year than last? 

Am I satisfied with my progress? Or am I being lazy and treading water?

Is my ego in check or am I still a little too self-serving?

How well am I being honest with myself and others?

Can I say no when I need to?

Am I being authentic and real?

Do I avoid temptation or inch close to it?

Do I truly know how I feel? Why do I find it hard to cry?

Am I being true to myself when it comes to money values?

Is my empathy deep enough to matter?

Do I blame, judge, or fix people? I know I can be condescending. I feel that it stems from insecurity. Does it?

I still do not like to be told what to do.

Am I hard to live with…or really hard to live with?

On the plus side, I have a quick mind, able to process and connect as conversations go on. I do not hold resentments, and I forgive easily. I trust most everyone to start. And I do truly love living. I have a good sense of humor, and I love the way I’ve kept my curiosity alive.

I also genuinely like people...except when they litter.

I hope you find in your own yearly (monthly, weekly, daily, hourly) review that you treat yourself with kindness. Every path has its own challenges, so be nice.

With love, peace and laughter,

Joe & Asta Dunne, Publishers
In-Print, Inspiration publisher's letter August 2025

 

 

Upcoming Events Near You
Tick Tackler

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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