Beneath My Feet

Stand-up paddle boarding in Huatulco, Mexico. This beautiful writing and photos by Maureen McIntosh . Dance with the waves, move with the sea.   Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free. ~   Christy Ann Martine Looking down into the depths from my paddle board is still such a thrill. Having kayaked for many years prior, standing on the water provided such a unique and spectacular perspective. I couldn’t get enough and wanted to paddle on every lake. Soon I expanded my explorations to the ocean and was in awe of this new and strange world. First time out, a spotted eagle ray glided under my board, and I was hooked! Standing over a deep crevice showcasing a brilliant wall of purple and blue coral or following a sea turtle as it explores the ocean floor is nothing short of spellbinding. On the ocean, I was shaky and uncertain at first. Gradually, I felt more rooted to the board and at one with the waves -- immersed in the pleasure of physicality and the beauty of nature...

Outside Broadway Theatre on Broadway Ave, Saskatoon, 2021 "Dress to express your authentic sense of style, not to impress others. When we feel comfortable and at ease with ourselves, we feel at ease with the world."   ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach My friend adores shoes and she's not afraid to wear them. Her spectacular feet glitter on Broadway after her one-woman shoe-- I mean show! Many years previous, she had that inner knowing that one day she would be performing on that same stage. Her breathy voice cracked and we could feel her nervousness, cloaked in vulnerability as she artfully shared stories of addictions and mental health. The play was raw, intense and laced with dark humour. I was spellbound by her courage. Not in the sense of being heroic, but in speaking openly about experiences and feelings. It is said that the first step in addiction recovery is admitting that you have a problem and asking for help. Then, to be vulnerable, sharing your story with someone you tru...

Near Holdfast SK, July 2021 There are times to plant, to grow and to harvest and to rest like the seasons—tend to your inner terrain and you will reap in more difficult times. ~ unknown Summer heat dusts me with nostalgia as we arrive at the land. It has been many years since I had a combine ride-along. My nephew's foot is next to mine as he is at the helm of the mighty machine which is devouring dry peas into its big belly. The equipment is larger than I remember -- the new technology amazing. I am proud of my agricultural heritage and am so grateful to farmers for their role in feeding the world.  We visited hail-damaged fields that were mostly destroyed, and I noticed many grasshoppers about. Too much rain, not enough... there is so much that could go wrong with weather and crops; it is easy to stress-out. Farmers need to plan, but also live for today and trust that things will work out. As poet Rumi advises,  "... stress in your life is because you have an expectation of ...

  Antelope Canyons, AZ (October, 2019) Even things that seem perfectly solid, like rock, are capable of undergoing surprising changes. Over centuries, weathering by wind and flash floods sculpted these deep canyons of fluid curving walls and striations. The gradations of colour revealed by shafts of light and sun beams are truly awe-inspiring. Everything is in a constant state of change; no matter how subtle or drastic, nature's elements are  transforming over time. Exploring the upper and lower Antelope Canyons in northern Arizona is a bucket list adventure -- one you might want to add to your own list! Every step taken, sometimes with very narrow footing, presents another breathtaking view towards the sky. A photographer's dream! But, the camera lens never truly captures the moment... instead, I remind myself to lower the camera, and through all my senses, the moment captures me. “I wish that all of nature’s magnificence, the emotion of the land, the living energy of place...