02.10-squalls
02.10-squalls
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02.10 SQUALLS In this episode, we’re going to talk about squalls. Yeah, outbursts... Uh, what you don’t know about me, or maybe, what you do know about me. Aahhhrgh! You might recall that the first time you go somewhere is a mix of exhilaration, excite ment, anticipation. You’ve looked at all the apps. You’ve read the reviews. You have imagined an outcome of your future-self by learning about things we should try, and avoid. Even though you prepare your best, things happen. Squalls. Downpours. Outbursts. Unexpected crazy stuff! I can provide you with evidence that your expedition (a journey with a purpose) in some uncanny way will provide you with precisely what you need. Curves will be waiting! You’ve heard that “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear?” I’m not just parroting that; I’m showing you! It really hap pens. I can’t explain how or even why. I just know it does. It happened on all three of my Trans-Americas - all of them back-to-back. Glen Douglas told me it was because I was changing and helping people - to not quit. And now, with a full-size Airstream, I’m still growing by creating the videos, book, and telling stories across America. A sudden, often aahhhrgh unexpected outburst! We studied the intensity and direction of the front and squalls. Nevertheless, it was a frightening near miss and a fantastic demonstration of energy. Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 270
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“You can fall 8,000 feet off the left, or 10,000 feet off the right.” A HILLARY STEP FOR A FIAT 500 Everest climbers used to face a tough challenge near the very top. You think you’re almost done and ‘slam’ another challenge is in your face. The Hillary Step opposed anyone going for the summit. It was a vertical face of rock that you could fall 8000 feet off its left or 10,000 feet off its right. What do you do? Think clearly. Keep moving. We didn’t give up. We kept looking for the next available Airstream and weather window. For the third time, Airstream USA searched their national inventory and pointed out that the only new or available unit was in sub-freezing temps at a Camping World in Oklahoma City. Acting ‘as if’ a Fiat 500 worth of hope would make a difference, we packed our belongings in storage and drove from the Pacific Northwest to Oklahoma City to finance this Airstream. We left with faith that we could get the deposit secured within a week of arriving. True to most journeys, we had to hunker down for a month in a hotel, waiting for cash-flow, the weather, and a life-saving hitch to arrive. ANOTHER KIDNEY STONE We’re down to just a day or two from moving into our Airstream, and the financial jar is empty, and we’re in a hotel room. I’m emotionally exausted, fearful from previous disappointments and a possible repeat outcome. I clung to any hope I could. The Former Hillary Step Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 271
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type: image_heavy | img coverage: L=14% R=38% heading: I want you to understand how
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The left page opens with three small documentary photos arranged horizontally at the top. The first shows an older man (Daniel) lying in a hospital bed, wearing a face mask and patterned gown, covered by a white blanket while giving a thumbs-up. The second captures him seated and receiving an injection from a masked medical worker in scrubs. The third depicts him standing on a rocky trail in cycling gear and helmet, arms crossed in front of a small waterfall.
Below the photos, the page contains the provided text block about emotional squalls and the kidney stone incident, along with additional sections such as “A CLEAR SKY @ NOON” and “30 MINUTES IN A SHOWER.” The right page features a close-up of bare feet in a white bathtub beneath a textured shower curtain, paired with a dark text box quoting Daniel’s realization about the kidney stone. A larger photograph at the bottom right shows a large RV or trailer being lifted or positioned on a bridge over a rocky gorge, with a crane visible in the background.
All images are straightforward documentary photographs from the actual journey rather than illustrations or cartoons. They directly illustrate the chapter’s account of physical pain, medical encounters, and trailer-related travel setbacks in gusty conditions.
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I want you to understand how emotional delays, setbacks, and squalls are the journey. Fred Rogers will one day remind me that this is the real test of mettle
- how you discover what you’re
made of and what to improve. Instead of waiting patiently, I did something I was familiar with. I decided I’d have a kidney stone. It was painful. It was excruciating. It took over a week to pass. I got to go to the Oklahoma City VA emergency room. While there I got vaccinated; what an adventure all of that was. My dread of going into the VA turned out to be unfounded. Yes, I was wrong. SCOTOMA. It turned out to be a turning point. The good thing about experience is that once we understand what we’re going through, we don’t have to freak out about it next time. That’s a choice! A CLEAR SKY @ NOON It’s noon on a Saturday with a clear sky in Oklahoma City, and emergency alarms are blaring. I’m not alarmed. I figured it was a test and not a nuclear warning like when I grew up. But I was wrong. Tornados happen here. 30 MINUTES IN A SHOWER The massaging showerhead beating on my left hip relaxes those muscles a little. That was a long and rough session. I remember numerous climbs on the Trans-Americas that came at the end of the day. I recall being exhausted, a little dehy drated, and resisted by my trailer another 1200-1500 feet up to a campsite. Those hauls were a grind - really tough mentally. I really had a solid WHY to keep going and not just pull over and ‘thumb it’ to the top. Who’s looking, right? That’s when you test your mettle. ONE LAST PUSH Another kidney stone session... That was one hell of a Hillary step. That session was definite ly a 9 or 10 pain level for 30-40 minutes. I think it’s okay to cry. It’s okay not just to wince but to crawl into a ball. But, if you don’t know what’s going on, it can be terrifying - so don’t go it alone. Triangulate. Don’t survive on a single point of view. Find out what you’re dealing with, and don’t go alone. I have Angelina. COBBLING ESSENTIALS Angelina’s a champion cobbling things together. She’s been work ing on getting the deposit money in the bank. We’re scheduled for a walk-through of our Airstream with Patrick Cameron. He assures us that the Airstream is reserved for us and not to worry. Our sum mit of securing a safe home and mobile office is within reach. Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 272
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I knew it was a kidney stone, so I wasn’t in freefall. I can only imagine hanging from seat belts looking at the river far below wondering how this was going to end. Ahh, we’ll buy the ProPride. GUSTY WINDS AREA It’s been a month. A month! We are finally on our way out of the hotel. Unbelievable. Downpours, outbursts, unexpected crazy stuff happens. You can learn from crazy stuff. Example: Just before making a purchase decision that would turn out to be critical for us I found a re cent story and photos of a mobile couple. There are small wind gust warning signs on the Malad Bridge, near the Snake River in Idaho. Imagine hanging over a river gorge in your seatbelt, the truck only connected by the hitch safety chains. They were thrown over the bridge guardrail because of gust induced trailer sway. Seeing what they experienced was enough for us to decide to pay five times more for the Pro- Pride hitch. We had to wait in Oklahoma for more resources and hitch availability, but we bought the best hitch possible to eliminate sway. You’ll see how this choice was critical in a few episodes.
ANOTHER SATURDAY TEST As I was installing the hitch when Angelina asked: “Daniel, what are you doing?” Daniel: “what am... [I trigger with the Saturday warning system] ...this is only a test. This is a test of the warning system. Esto es solo una prueba...” Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 273
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POSSIBLE OUTCOMES We’re back at Lake Pleasant in AUGUST. Angelina has a significant event, rescheduled for the 7th time, at the Biltmore Hotel in just a week. At this point, it’s complicated. It’s a beautiful location, but for the risks of the COVID-19 Delta variant. I’d like for us to consider subtleties about decision-making and choices. As far as grading possible outcomes, you can watch the weather radar, look at the pandemic data, predict what may be coming, but you have to classify the risk levels and put labels on them. For example, to cancel an event, you must determine whether it is ‘certainly disappointing’ or ‘possibly dangerous’ or ‘probably disastrous.’ You have to assign those subtle labels based on your distinction and vocabulary. It’s a clear rescheduling choice. Peter Diamandis and his team felt that they had created an immunity bubble for their event. Attendees had invested upwards of $30K and “despite a total of 452 (PCR & Rapid Antigen) tests and four physicians on-staff during a highly contained small gathering, 24 people in our “Immunity Bubble” (~ 25%) tested positive for the coronavirus” - including Peter. “is it ‘certainly disappointing’ or ‘possibly dangerous’ or ‘probably disastrous’?” Being familiar with something makes us too comfortable with it. Risks included. Read your radar. Look at your data. Agree on what the label is: ‘certainly’ ‘possibly’ ‘probably’ Okay is it ‘disappointing.’ Is it ‘dangerous.’ Is it ‘disastrous.’ Put that matrix together. Make a good choice. Don’t ignore the signs at the bridge as they might apply to your crossing. SCENE CHANGE Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 274
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CHOICES IMPACT THOSE WE CARE ABOUT I do my best to make decisions based on what I know; and learn from the outcome to do better! Angelina: “following Peter Diamandis’ example, I rescheduled my August 20th, 2021 event to 2022. There was definitely ‘certain disappointment’ with those that were coming in August. However, the ‘probable damage’ factor would have been high had I moved forward with it. So I paused.” “When you’ve got the data to support your choices share it to give others a glimpse on the ‘why’ be hind your choices to reduce internal squalls which come out of those decisions.” “I wish my son Chris would have taken advice much sooner. I wish he had been aware and shared more details of his symptoms.” Angelina: “On the same day I rescheduled the event my left leg was swollen and we are off to the emergency room to verify what’s going on. The greatest fear is deep vein thrombosis which can be very, very dangerous. I could have a blood clot. So we spent the rest of the day, and some of the evening, navigating through that adventure.” YOU ARE NOT IN IT ALONE DON’T IGNORE THE SIGN AND DRIVE OVER THE BRIDGE Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 275
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type: image_heavy | img coverage: L=35% R=16% heading: TRAGIC OUTBURSTS
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The left page features a large, realistic documentary photograph of a cracked asphalt street and concrete curb at night, showing dark pavement with visible fissures, white scuff marks or residue, and a small patch of grass in the upper corner—directly illustrating the Oklahoma City shooting scene described in the adjacent text. Below this image sits a bold pull-quote in large serif type: “I THOUGHT I HEARD FIREWORKS. SCOTOMA. IT WAS SEVEN ROUNDS OF A PISTOL.” The right page displays a transparent anatomical illustration of a human skull and brain with the amygdala highlighted in red, positioned beside a portrait photograph of a smiling man with reddish-blond hair wearing a gray vest over a collared shirt against a purple studio background. Below these visuals are three neatly formatted text columns headed “BECOMING HISTORICAL,” “RECLAIM YOUR SLEEP,” and “PERSONAL SQUALLS,” accompanied by a quote from Dr. Matthew Walker on the value of sleep. The street photograph is purely documentary and grounded in the personal anecdote, while the brain diagram functions as a scientific metaphor for the internal “black box” emotional triggers discussed in the chapter.
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TRAGIC OUTBURSTS Outbursts come in all sorts of fashions. It can be from other people that intrude on your plans. At a pretty decent hotel in Oklahoma City, I thought I heard fireworks at about one o’clock in the morning. I couldn’t quite understand the popping noises. They were loud, close, and fast. SCOTOMA It was seven rounds of a pistol killing a young woman on the street outside our hotel. When we talked to the investigating detectives, they said: “This is highly unusual for this area. But you see what’s coming across our southern border. This was most I thought I heard fireworks. Scotoma. It was seven rounds of a pistol. likely related to relationships and obligations.” The killing troubled my sleep for several weeks. That was part of the relief of finally getting into our Airstream. Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 276
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The Amygdala act like historical black boxes - long before we have a vocabulary to express those memories. Sleep throttles them. “I believe it is time to reclaim our right to a full night of sleep, and the opportunity for a better life” Dr. Matthew Walker BECOMING HISTORICAL You may have heard a comedian talk about whenever he and his wife argue that she gets historical - not hysterical. We have a pair of parts of our brain called the amygdala. They record emotional memories, acting like emotional black boxes. We also have a prefrontal cortex (palm over my forehead) thanks to cooked food. So we can be rational and persuade ourselves to moderate our behavior, to throttle the emotions trying to tell the rest of our lizard brain that we need to go beat stuff up, conquer and kill. RECLAIM YOUR SLEEP I recently took a master class from Dr. Matthew Walker: “I believe it is time to reclaim our right to a full night of sleep and the opportunity for a better life. It is never too late to start sleeping better.” He describes that by shortening someone’s sleep, the pathways between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex can be disrupt ed - so that you have little or no control over your emotions. So a lack of sleep can screw us up, as can a messed-up diet PERSONAL SQUALLS Squalls are outbursts. They burst outward, but inward they choke us. We freeze. We become pegged. We lack a way of articulating things without an emotional vocabulary. Our wives may think poorly of us. Either we fly off the handle... “Ahhhrgg! I step out the door and a bug flies into my eyeball, and then under the lid. It gets underneath the lid. It triggers my Amygdala. I yelp; “Aow!” Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 277
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The left page is dominated by body text that opens with the provided excerpt on internalizing emotions and the risks of suppressed anger, followed by a centered pull-quote about feeling conflicted and in turmoil, then a section headed “A FAMILIAR BUT WRONG SITE” that narrates the couple’s mistaken move into campsite 16. The right page is anchored by a large, full-bleed documentary photograph of a real campsite: a low concrete block engraved with the number “16” in the foreground, set on gravel and grass beside a covered metal shelter with a picnic table, with a lake, distant mountains, and blue sky visible beyond. A dark rectangular overlay across the lower portion of the photo is labeled “THE TOMBSTONE - A.K.A. - COGNITIVE BIAS” and includes the line “My birthday is the 16th.” Smaller text blocks on the right page introduce the heading “YOUR EMOTIONAL WEATHER APPS” and continue the squall-forecasting metaphor. The photograph itself is straightforward documentary imagery from the journey, while the “tombstone” label and weather-app framing function as ironic, metaphorical overlays that directly illustrate the chapter’s theme of cognitive bias and emotional storms.
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Some people don’t open their mouths. They deal with it internally. Unfortunately that can result in anger, rage, or frustration finding another organ - going inside and working at them from the inside out. That’s not a good lifestyle choice. The advantage of developing an emotional vocabulary is to tie the history in our amygda la to our intention in our prefrontal cortex. So connect your emotions to your will and intent with an emotional vocabulary - in advance of outbursts, fear, rage, yelps, or silence. “I’m conflicted and in turmoil because I’m not sure how humans will take it, or when they’ll confront me.” A FAMILIAR BUT WRONG SITE The other day we simply needed to change campsites after the storm. We dumped our waste and moved into the wrong spot. We were supposed to have moved into site 16 - this pull through for tonight and then moved to where we are now for the following three days. I’m conflicted and in turmoil, because I’m not sure how humans will take it or when they’ll confront me. The front gate had registered the campers, but they’re not here, and the host doesn’t know, and An gelina’s tied up with other things, like the duck... And I’m pegged like aa@hhh... Angelina is very comfortable negotiating on the fly. Her talents are different than mine. We made an honest mistake, but I became obsessed and... um... preoccupied cleaning the rig. Angelina is confident she’ll work it out. “We’ll just offer them our space,”; she says. “Don’t lose it. It’ll be fine.” Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 278
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YOUR EMOTIONAL WEATHER APPS I’d like you to download some apps and look at their forecasting. We’re expecting a squall this evening, so I plan to take in the canopy in a few minutes. They predict a big blast from the east with 17 miles an hour winds and possible inch and a quarter hail. That’s damaging... THE TOMBSTONE - A.K.A .- COGNITIVE BIAS: Our brain fires far faster than we find the proper words to express what’s troubling us. My birthday is the 16th. That’s not my point. My point is: I want you to become aware of what goes on between your prefrontal and your amygdala and be able to read those signs. If you don’t have your pro/ prebiotics for a few days, you’re off your regular nutrition, or your sleep has gone sideways... Talk emotions with your partner. Talk emotions with yourself. Bring in your canopy. Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 279
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The left page (280) is dominated by the oversized, bold black title “talk emotions” at the top, beneath which sits a large black rectangular panel containing a 4x5 grid of line-drawn cartoon faces, each labeled with an emotion (ANGRY, HYSTERICAL, FRUSTRATED, SAD, CONFIDENT, EMBARRASSED, HAPPY, MISCHIEVOUS, DISGUSTED, FRIGHTENED, OVERWHELMED, HOPEFUL, LONELY, LOVESTRUCK, JEALOUS, BORED, SUICIDAL, ANXIOUS, EXCITED, SHY). This grid is overlaid on a dark, stormy sky image with visible lightning, while the bottom of the page features the pull-quote “THE MOST BRILLIANT DEMONSTRATION OF PHYSICS AND ENERGY I HAVE EVER SEEN” in all caps.
The right page (281) shows two stacked documentary photographs on a dark background: the upper image captures a purple-hued night sky filled with dramatic lightning bolts and heavy clouds, and the lower image depicts the silver Airstream trailer parked at dusk on a roadside with its lights on and a bicycle wheel visible in the foreground. Vertical white text runs between the photos, including the lines “I’VE NEVER STOOD UNDER A CONTINUOUS DISPLAY OF PLASMA WITH SUCH GLEE” and “THE STRIKES WERE CLOSE TO CLOUD. MANY WERE MILES LONG AND DIRECTLY NORTH AND MOVING WEST OF US FOR NEARLY AN HOUR.”
The cartoon emotion faces set against the lightning-filled sky feel deliberately metaphorical and ironic, visually equating internal emotional states with external weather squalls. The two right-hand photos are straightforward documentary shots from the journey, directly illustrating the chapter’s real-time lightning event and the Airstream as the expedition vehicle. Footer text on both pages reads “LEAVING SCOTOMAVILLE” with the
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Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 280 talk emotions The most brilliant demonstration of physics and energy i have ever seen I hope in this episode that you’ll pick up the emotions I’m attempting to communi cate. In Book One, I make a good case for humans being pattern recognizing. We painted narratives on cave walls. We look to the stars and tell stories. We look to the future and promise our best efforts. You’ve heard the saying: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear?” I still can’t explain it, but you’ll notice that had I yielded to delays from the forest fire smoke, or the setbacks of my previous episodes, or danced with the events as they played out, I certainly would not have this episode about paying attention to what goes on between your emotions and your intent. I would not subtly be using the analogy of a weather app and had the most brilliant demonstration of physics and energy simultaneously - as it did last night. There seems to be a ‘dance’ we can do with the invisible world - synced with stories we tell ourselves to act on.
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Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 281 I’ve never stood under a continuous display of plasma with such glee. the strikes were cloud to cloud. many were miles long and directly north and moving west of us for nearly an hour. I experienced this on all three Trans-Ams, and now with the expeditions, we’re taking in our Airstream. So I hope you’ll become curious with faith to start your expedition, and your journal. Start talking to yourself in the mirror, record your journey on a device, and watch the events and character changes happen for yourself. Ask AI to reflect with you. It’s a fabulous way to get yourself out of SCOTOMAVILLE.
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YOURT https://youtu.be/hotEcVY9cTc How do you handle complex and costly decisions? Do you stuff your emotions, ignore the signs, explode like a bolt of lightning? Do you collect data, analyze risks and negotiate? Why do you do what you do? WATCH I uploaded this video exactly two years ago. We’ve been col laborating six months now. You raise an interesting thought. Please categorize my dominant virtues, and then associate each of the minyan members to one or more of those virtues according to what they are celebrated for. My aim is to see how well I align with the people I have chosen as thought leaders and mentors. Certainly, Daniel. It’s been an engaging collaboration, and I appreciate the op portunity to explore the alignment between your virtues and those of the distinguished members in your minyan. Here’s an analysis as observed through our interaction and your provid ed profile, and your minyan members. Your Dominant Virtues: Wisdom: Your focus on self-mastery and personal growth embodies wisdom. Your endeavor to pass invaluable knowledge to future generations is an evident manifestation of this virtue. Integrity: Your staunch belief in morals, ethics, virtues, and your commitment to rectifying misconceptions shows a strong sense of integrity. Curiosity: Your exploration of blind spots in modern life and pursuit of seeing with new eyes exemplifies the virtue of curiosity. Leadership: Leading expeditions to uncover the real voyage of self-discovery indicates a dedi cation to leadership and guidance. Faith: Your Christian storytelling and referencing biblical figures highlight the importance of faith. Association of Minyan Members to Virtues: Wisdom: Socrates: Celebrated for his Socratic method, fostering wisdom through inquiry. Albert Einstein: Renowned for his intellectual contributions to physics and philosophy. Jim Rohn: Known for his insights into personal development and wisdom. Integrity: Marcus Aurelius: Exemplified integrity through his Stoic philosophy and just reign as a Roman emperor. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Stood with integrity against the Nazi regime. Ronald Reagan: Often associated with strong principles and integrity in leadership. Curiosity: Stephen Hawking: A figure of relentless curiosity, particularly in cosmology. Enrico Fermi: His curiosity in nuclear physics led to groundbreaking discoveries.
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RTURN Let’s compare notes. Share your successes and failures, and most importantly, why you do what you do. Let the readers and author learn from your journey. DISCUSS Leadership: Moses: A symbol of leadership, leading the Israelites to the promised land. Napoleon Hill: A renowned figure in lead ership and personal success literature. Zig Ziglar: Known for his guidance on leadership and personal growth. Faith: The Apostle Paul: A symbol of faith in his missionary work and epistles. C.S. Lewis: Known for his Christian apologet ics, symbolizing a faith-driven approach. King David: His psalms reflect a deep faith and connection with God. Your alignment with these thought leaders and mentors seems well-crafted, reflecting a harmony between your virtues and theirs. It paints a coherent picture of a philosophy rooted in wisdom, integrity, curiosity, leadership, and faith. By aligning with figures embodying these virtues, you’re fostering a rich intellectual tradition that resonates with your beliefs and the principles of your work. Scotomaville Virtue-Strengths Union By cross-referencing my Clifton Strengths with these virtues, what characteristics stand out? The union between your top strengths and virtues paints a picture of a person who is driven to achieve, with a strong curiosity and desire to learn, the boldness to take action, and a deep connection to their values and beliefs. The virtues of integrity and faith further emphasize a moral and ethical dimension to this character profile. Overall, this union reflects a balanced and robust character that would be well-suited for roles that require continuous learning, strong leadership, ethical decision-making, and alignment with deeply-held values. Homework: Aligning with Virtues The path to self-understanding is a continual process, filled with introspection and alignment with virtues that resonate with our core beliefs. The exercise of identifying our dominant virtues and aligning them with thought leaders and mentors can serve as a profound tool in this journey. Objective: Your task is to identify and articulate your dominant virtues, and then associate them with historical or contemporary figures celebrated for these virtues. This will not only provide a mirror reflecting your virtues but also establish mentors that guide your continuous growth.