As is customary, I find myself reflecting what this year has brought and admiring how much growth I have accomplished this past revolution around the sun.
2019 was not easy, but the growth outweighed the struggle.
The year started off business as usual. I was offering mermaid lessons on the island of Maui, and preparing for a speaking engagement at MerMagic Con 2019. The convention in Manassas, Virginia was amazing. I got to spend time with my fellow performers of the Circus Siren Pod while meeting other wonderful mermaids. The talk on ethical interactions with wildlife was completely full. I was very excited to see mermaids stepping into more active roles within their communities to set positive examples for how to behave around wild animals.
Mermaid Lila speaking at MerMagic Con 2019
The high of the Con soon wore off and it was back to business as usual. In April my world started to turn completely upside down. I found myself in the ER needing emergency surgery. Thankfully my mom was just a short distance away on the island of Hawaii, and my good friend was able to drive me to the hospital. After a night of excruciating pain and non-stop nausea, I was taken in for surgery. I had a speedy recovery but that in itself was an eye opening and game changing moment.
Mermaid Lila reading “Turtles Want Teammates” to a birthday girl
You see I had been working with a small mermaid school out here for the past 3 years. I had assisted them with their website, blog, instruction, all while remaining an independent contractor to maintain my school and my mermaid programs. After about two years of collaboration, it became apparent that my input into creating the program wasn’t valued. I was killing myself walking on eggshells, unable to run my NAUI program without the threat of being fired. I loved taking people in to the ocean, but it soon became apparent that my health and well being as an individual and as a business owner was being ignored and trampled. It began to feel like my soul was being sucked out of my body every time I went to work. I knew it would be tough, but I had to leave. I had grown as much as I was allowed to, and the time came for me to step down and pursue my passions to the fullest.
I knew the time had come for me to pour myself into the NAUI Mermaid Program which was in the process of becoming an internationally recognized diving program. With the support of some amazing Lady Bosses I cut ties with the old school and ventured off completely into the unknown. Two weeks later I found myself in South Haven, Michigan for Mermaid MegaFest. Once again I was able to reunite with my friends from Circus Siren Pod, and meet my good friends from Aqua Performance Group. I had the opportunity to perform in their giant tank as well as certify 18 mermaids for the NAUI Certification Program. While in Michigan, I addressed the largest crowd to date regarding pollution of freshwater ecosystems and how our chemical based sunscreen is causing severe damage to aquatic and land based environments.
Mermaid Lila performing at Mermaid MegaFest
My career changed for the better as I was able to join the Gotcha SNUBA family and began my life as a SNUBA instructor back on Maui. I was still working on the water and loving every moment of my new life. Suddenly I was taking people on their very first dive underwater and getting them hooked on diving. It rekindled a long lost love for SCUBA and in September I signed on to continue my divers education as a PADI Dive Master Candidate with a local dive shop. I was still getting bookings for mermaid lessons, and still selling the week long international retreats with success.
Although the change itself was painful and left me in the emotional depths for a bit, I loved my new life. I was happy, healthy, and had more positive influences in my life than I did before. I didn’t feel as much stress or anxiety going to work. I loved my job, I loved being back on boats, and I loved the shift within myself that allowed this to happen.
Mermaid Lila with Whale sharks in La Paz
November saw the second La Paz Mermaid Retreat with all the wonderful mermaids I got to meet there. We had two amazing days encountering whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez and some sleepy sea lions to observe at San Rafalito. The group got to work with the amazing Cassie Pali of Island Mermaids and gain skills to empower them on their mermaid journey.
The last Friday of the year I received some wonderful news. The NAUI Mermaid program had been accepted as a standard for all active status NAUI SCUBA and Skin-Diving Instructors. The course will be available internationally. I gladly accepted the position of Program Coordinator for the Mermaid Freediving Course which allows me to approve all instructors interested in teaching the program as well as answer any questions they may have about teaching a class of growing popularity.
Mermaid Lila with newly certified NAUI Mermaids at Mermaid MegaFest
While life is busy, I’m excited to see what this new decade has in store for growth and stepping into my power. I’ve had some amazing gifts and some amazing heartache.