Have you ever wondered why, after a trip to the ocean, you feel alive and invigorated?

On a recent beach holiday, I noticed after just a few hours of breathing in the invigorating air, my mood seemed to improve. I was more relaxed, and I could take a full breath, filling my lungs with what seemed to be energized air.

I get it. The beach is beautiful, powerful and majestic; however there was something undefinable in the air. During my first morning stroll along the shoreline with a friend, we both felt we were hit by something palpable as we approached the water's edge. I turned to her and said, "Do you feel that?" She said, "Yep, it's the ions."

So what are these ions? Seashore ions are not your garden variety ions. These potent little energized molecules are negative ions, but there is nothing negative about them.

​For all of you (me included) that fell asleep in Chemistry 101, here's the deal. The air we all breath is filled with molecules. These particles contain electrons and protons. When the number of protons and electrons are not balanced, the particles become either negatively or positively charged. A seashore ion is a negatively charged molecule, containing more electrons than protons.

Sea air contains electron-rich particles that have healing properties better than the claims once made by snake oil salesmen. These ions are the real deal. Negative ions have been found to enhance your immune system, purify your blood and increase your sex drive. Oh, now I have your attention!
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Urban settings have high concentrations of positive ions, due to the irritating elements in our environment. Polluted air and electronic equipment are chronic generators of potentially harmful positive ions. However at the beach, away from pollution, negative ions rule. The plain fact is, negative ions help the body function more efficiently. They balance the autonomic nervous system, and act as a natural anti-depressant.

For the next few days of my vacation, I greeted each morning with a deep breath of briny sea air, and reveled in salty mist. By the end of my visit my frown lines seemed to soften, my mood lifted, and a smile became firmly planted on my face.

Walking up the weathered ramp for the ferry ride home, I felt charged. I took my last inhalation of the curative ions... ready to conduct and transform my world.

With summer now half over, I am writing you a prescription for a dose of beach.

Rx: One beach visit, deep inhalation every 2 to 3 hours followed by rest and relaxation. Repeat as often as needed. Unlimited refills.

​Live in color,
Abby

Have you ever really experienced the end of a day? Have you ever watched, not just the magnificence of a sunset, but what follows? The time when stillness consumes the landscape and enchantment reins...dusk.

This in-between time, straddling the fading light and emergence of the first evening star, evokes a sense of mystery. After the sun sets, curiously the evening breeze grows still, and bird songs seem to hush. Momentarily we are suspended between light and dark realms, creating a magical space to pause.

​Dusk is the day's intermission.

Now don't waste this intermission to grab a snack. This intermission is meant to dangle oneself between consciousness and unconsciousness, providing a reflective space to inhabit. This space can hold an amalgam of sensations. One could be enticed into this mystical gateway, or be consumed by a fear of foreboding darkness.

This short yet bewitching time should be utilized wisely. Enter this interval to high five the day, or touch base with your powers that be...as the day's last glimmer of light is silently extinguished.

Live in color,
Abby