Drink up the season of change.

“Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.” – Elizabeth Lawrence

Fall is around the corner and with the changing season comes plenty of exciting changes in my own life.

Sometimes we get so excited for change to come about that we miss the actual shift – the moments when life is new and different. We’re so focused on getting through the unknown that we sometimes miss all the good that can come from new experiences.

Today I made ginger tea for the first time. It took a few tweaks to get it just right, but now I have a new favorite treat for cozy Fall nights. It’s a simple recipe that takes just enough time to let you sit back and wait as a bitter root to become a smooth and spicy cup of homemade ginger tea.

So as we enter a new season and begin on new journeys – whether it’s the start of school or a new career – make sure you take the time to really experience the changing colors, sounds and smells of the season. And this year, Fall smells like sweet gingery tea to me.

My Hot and Healthy Ginger Tea (1 small but powerful cup)

2 cups water
1/4 cup of thinly sliced raw ginger root
1/2 lime squeezed
1 Tbs honey

Boil ginger slices in water for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat. Strain into mug or tea pot and add fresh lime juice and honey to taste. By the way, ginger is kind of good for everything – from nausea and heartburn to cold/flu and migraine relief. So drink up and enjoy!

Life is just better in the water.

“I always wanted to be Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up.  I can’t fly, but swimming is the next best thing.  It’s harmony and balance.  The water is my sky.” - Clayton Jones

I’m a fish. Always have been, always will be. After swimming competitively for more than a decade, I’ve probably spent more time in the water than most people. What I love the most about exercising underwater is the freedom I experience. Sounds are muffled. Sensations are smooth. Time slows down.

Every week I swim in an ocean race with hundreds of other athletes and I’m always amazed at how fast and frantic the swim becomes. With large groups of people all fighting to get to the first buoy, the water quickly changes from smooth to choppy, fingers poke you in the eye, feet smack you in the face, and chaos ensues. In last week’s race, I found myself getting kicked in the gut and then knocked into repeatedly by the same swimmer. So I decided to swim off to the side a few yards to avoid her. Then I continued swimming, a little off course, but with smoother water and open space, I was able to swim with the water and not against the agitated swimmer.

People think the ocean is scary, rough and dangerous. And it can be. But if you respect the water, take note of its patterns, and learn to move with it, you’ll find a sort of harmony and balance in the roughness. Even in the ocean — where currents, waves and people disrupt the calm waters — you can find peace.

Admire the beauty of a warm summer night.

“So here’s to all those summer nights when my feet hit the sand and the waves break my fall and all my friends around me outnumber the stars.”— Unknown

Mmm. Warm summer nights. With more hours of sun after work, the outdoors becomes my playground. I can go for an ocean swim, a long run, a short hike, or host an impromptu barbeque – the best kind. Surrounded by friends and laughter, I can watch the sunset, cook up a delicious meal and take in the beauty around me. I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, and I appreciate it everyday. No matter where you are, there is beauty around you every summer night. Get outside. Take it in. Live it up.

Feel the sand between your toes.

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”  – Ralph Waldo Emerson

When you’re trapped in an office all day, every day like many of us are — long summer weekends are much needed therapy. No matter where you live, a trip to the ocean, lake, river or pool can be a sensory experience like no other. I was lucky enough to spend most of this weekend at the beautiful beaches of sunny Santa Barbara, just minutes from my home. We laid in the sun until we couldn’t stand the heat, then raced into the cool, crisp ocean water, swam over kelp beds and sea creatures, and breathed in the cool salty air. Nothing but goosebumps and good times.

No part of the weekend was planned, we just drove until we found an uncrowded spot to soak up the sun and feel the sand between our toes. No watches, no deadlines, not even a lunch break. As the sun started to set, we stopped to pick up fresh veggies and seafood for an impromptu barbeque. It was like a mini-vacation only a short drive away. I didn’t even check my email for two days. Glorious.

The author, pictured in one of her first "big girl" swimsuits. Even Minnie Mouse floaties can be stylish when you've got confidence.

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

You’ve all seen her. That beautiful girl in the blue bikini. It’s that sexy smile and stunning posture that makes her stand out from the rest. But it’s not from the hours she puts into her gym routine or the healthy recipes she cooks up every week, it’s all in her confidence.

I’ve been swimming competitively since before I could talk back to my parents, so being in a swimsuit has never caused me great anxiety. I feel more normal strutting around in a two piece than office clothes, but that’s just me. But for the longest time, I did not feel comfortable wearing a dress. As an athlete in high school and college, I was constantly reminded that femininity was something weak, something that had to overcome in order to go faster and get stronger. So I rebelled against dresses, skirts and anything pink. Anytime that I tried on a dress, I thought my upside-down-triangle-swimmer-frame looked ridiculous.

Over the years, after my twice a day workouts ended, and my identity as a “swimmer” expanded — I learned that it was not my body that made the dresses look silly, it was my confidence. When I finally embraced my closeted girly-ness, my posture improved, my head was held high and I learned to love my swimmer shoulders. They’re original. They remind me that I am strong, healthy, powerful and they look awful cute in summer dresses — even pink ones. So whatever your issues may be with your body, learn to embrace them. Stand tall, put on a smile, rock that string bikini or mini dress, and carry on with confidence.

Turn off technology and take in the world around you. This photo was taken just two hours from the author's home in Santa Barbara, CA.

What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? Really. Think about that for a moment. Was it something on your computer screen? Your TV? Your iPhone? Or was it something real, tangible, vivid and incredible? Chances are it was something in nature. Some of the most beautiful creations are not manmade. They are in our oceans, our mountains and our forests. They’re in the great outdoors.

Yet most of us spend more time with technology than nature. We’d rather watch Planet Earth than drive an hour from our homes and witness the real thing. Why is that? This year I decided to do something revolutionary, well maybe it’s not that big a deal, but it’s certainly not common. I disconnected my cable. And it was a blessing. The money I save every month is used for outdoor excursions. And I don’t miss it at all. In the hours between leaving the office and drifting off to sleep, I fill the “Primetime” television slot by heading to the farmer’s market and cooking up a made-up recipe or taking a walk to watch the sunset. I find that the less time I have with my television, my computer and my phone, the more time I have with nature and the people I love. And that, my friends, is time well spent.

This unique flower was spotted by the author on a hike in the San Ynez Valley.

Have you ever seen a flower so unique and beautiful that you had to stop and check it out? We see flowers all around us everyday, driving past them on our morning commute and our jog after work. But how often do you stop to take notice? Nature is truly a beautiful thing.

I was given an office plant a few months ago that was almost completely on it’s side, dried out and close to death. It was upsetting having it in my office because it just looked so sad. Last week, a coworker of mine offered to give it a little TLC. I told her I was ready to toss it, so she could do her best. She took the plant, broke up the dry soil, gave it some fresh water, put in a supportive stick and wrapped a little ribbon around the leaves to help it stand up. Just a week later, new sprouts have started to grow. It can almost stand up on its own. My little broken plant is getting a second life. All because someone had the patience to notice and give it a little love. Yes, in nature, life and death come and go. But it’s most remarkable when you see how resilient it is. While we may not notice each individual plant we cross paths with in this life, it’s important to admire just how unique and special they all are. Every flower is a little miracle worth saving.

Don't have time to get outside today? Roll down the window and take in the view … along with a little fresh air.

“Happiness flutters in the air whilst we rest among the breaths of nature.” – Kelly Scheaffer

According to the EPA, most of us spend 87% of our lives indoors. That’s astonishing, really, when you think about it. We work in cubicles or offices with little natural light, and then we get into our air conditioned cars and head to the gym before driving to our insulated homes for the rest of the night. That’s pretty typical for most Americans. So when we do venture outdoors, whether it’s for a morning walk, a BBQ with family and friends, a day at the beach, or a hike or camping trip, nature provides a much needed energy boost that’s hard to find anywhere else.

Whenever I’m having a rough day, I try to squeeze in a little time for fresh air. Even just 5 minutes. Instead of a coffee or smoking break that traditional workplaces follow, I always try to take a quick walk around my building to get a little exercise and boost of energy. Before or after work, if the weather is nice, I bike to my gym or skip it entirely and run along the shoreline. Sometimes I just roll down the window and take in the view. I’ve found that just having even a tiny bit of outdoor time each day just makes me feel good. For me, taking a deep, slow breath of unfiltered air and feeling the sunshine on my skin never fails to put a smile on my face. So get outside and get happy.

“Adopt the pace of nature:  her secret is patience.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

We live in a culture where we can pretty much get whatever we want right when we want it. If I need an answer to a trivia question, I can pull out my iPhone and Google it and have the answer in minutes. If I need to talk to someone, I can call, text, email or Facebook message them and get an instant response. If I want a cup of tea, I don’t have to walk more than a few blocks to find it. So when I do have moments where my patience is tested at work or at home, it’s easy to get frustrated. But this isn’t always the case.

When I’m in the great outdoors, time slows down. Cell phone reception is limited. Rough roads call for slow driving. Weather can completely change our plans. And yet, this is where I feel most at peace. This is where I feel most patient. Why is that? If you stop and look at the beauty around you, take in the crisp mountain air, the singing birds, even the dirt and prickly plants that stick to your shoes … you start to realize that all of these things are constantly changing and yet they remain the same. They are tested by wind, given new life with the seasons, and they don’t seem bothered by it. Yes I’m talking as if plants have feelings. But really, look at a flower. Tell me she doesn’t look patient and at peace.