the mermaid project

The Mermaid Project began with a nudge. I had no idea when I said yes to this invitation, that our project would wrap up with a video submission to the Ellen show.

She never did invite us on her show, but what fun we had planning for it, like it was a done deal. We even had a photo shoot.

Sadly, the undisputed star of mermaid video, our Lenny, has since passed away.

She embodied the heart and soul of the mermaids who swam together, and the message they carried.

Mermaid unite! Expand the ripple!

Ellen DeGeneres Show “Real Live Silver Haired Mermaids have been sighted in Saskatoon”

Dear Ellen,

I know a deserving woman and group that I believe should really be highlighted on your show.

My hilarious, hugely talented, marvelously intelligent and ‘walks-to-the beat-of her-own-drum’ friend Shelley Keyes , is not only a beautiful soul but she is also a woman who spends her days uplifting others.

A few years back Shelley got one of her ‘nudges’ while doing laps at a public pool in Saskatoon, SK.

She asked some of the other ladies who were also regulars at the pool if they’d like to start training as a group, to see if they could better their overall swimming experience.

They agreed.

Shelley went home and doodled away (which she often does) with her markers and flipchart paper- (out of which emerged a program titled The Mermaid Project).

This group of experienced women( I would say older but experienced sound so much better) led by Shelley, met regularly and while they advanced themselves as lane swimmers, the group became much more than just a bunch of ladies that swam together.

Shelley gently pushed “the Mermaids” to challenge themselves in their everyday lives- to step outside their comfort zones, and set goals beyond the pool- What happened was pure beauty….these experienced women blossomed in their own right.

Each challenging themselves in their own way, to try something they never considered or thought possible, and in testing their limits, felt empowered.

Now my dear friend Shelley is as humble as they come.

If the spotlight is on her, she will gracefully move that spotlight on the group around her and though she does pat herself on the back she does it quickly and quietly (and sometimes with a glass of wine in the other hand).

My dear friend Shelley says she’s living her dream, helping people set themselves free through her work as a Transition Sherpa.

I have known her for over 15 years, and I know through personal experience that she helps people change their lives for the better- she did that with me.

I don’t know another person on this earth who is as dedicated to helping her clients unravel their stuff to realize just how talented and really wonderful they are, even when they can’t see it yet with their own eyes.

Knowing that I was going to contact you to highlight ‘The mermaid Project” I challenged Shelley to write something about herself.

She became very quiet when I told her what my intention was and I felt her resistance almost  instantly. This is what she came up with and I have to give her props because I know how difficult it is for her to highlight her own accomplishments.

Looking forward to seeing these ladies on your show. They have an important message to share.

Candace Fox

Freelance writer  

Musings from a middle-aged mermaid

When Candace asked me to write a little bio about myself to go along with our Mermaid Project video submission, I felt myself balk. I didn’t really want to talk about me.

After all who does?

Honestly, I think it’s because thinking about ME is hard to do after experiencing the magic of WE, of what happens when we women come together around a shared desire.

Like with this mermaid project. What started out as a seemingly simple idea, rippled out to touch many other areas of our lives and those around us.

I can’t help but wonder if there might be more magical experiences waiting for me to show up and live into?

I think I stand a good chance of finding out if I bring with me what I know.

I know:
♥ When I listen to my God nudges, and follow them up with action, unequivocally and without exception, they are always for the better good, and have been transformative for me.
♥ When I contribute my time and gifts without ANY expectation whatsoever of anything in return, I am provided with an endless source of whatever I need to be able to do it.
♥ It takes very little to make a huge difference.
♥ There is a difference for me with being content with who I am and settling with who I am.
♥ I learned I can do wayyyyyyyy more than I think I can, so it’s important to challenge myself, to push through my self imposed limitations to claim and live into my potential.
♥ Talking about my fears seems to make it easier for others to do so too.
♥ I love being a Woman! Women are the BEST when it comes to supporting and encouraging each other – ESPECIALLY when we witness a woman pushing herself to overcome a perceived limitation, a challenge or achieve a personal goal
♥ Finally, whatever I think it’s about, hardly ever, turns out to be what it’s about.

This middle aged mermaid is changed by and forever grateful for the opportunity to swim alongside thCheck out the mermaids (12 min in human time) our undisputed Queen, Lenny steals the show.  ese magnificent mermaids.

Mermaids unite! Expand the ripple…

Check out our video (12 min total in human time) Our undisputed mermaid Queen, Lenny steals the show.  

Love