A Day That Felt Heavier Than Planned
By the time you’re reading this … weeks, months, or even years will have passed since I recorded this episode. But the day itself still feels very present to me. I was in Nebraska, preparing to move on. Another state. Another leg of the journey. And yet, something felt off.
I recorded this episode on July 14. The day after news broke that shook the country. I won’t rehash details here. You already know what happened. What I will say is this… sometimes the world reaches into your plans and changes the emotional weather completely. That’s what happened to me that morning.
This project is about movement. About curiosity. About seeing places and stories unfold. But travel doesn’t exist in isolation. You carry the weight of the world with you, whether you want to or not. Nebraska, for me, became tied to that moment in time. Not because of the land. Not because of the people. Simply because of where I was when the news arrived.
Choosing to Move On
There are surely beautiful things to see in Nebraska. I don’t doubt that for a second. But that day, I needed to keep moving. I needed distance. A change in scenery. A reset. So I pointed the car north and west… toward South Dakota.
I found myself looking ahead. Toward wide-open spaces. Toward the southwestern corner of South Dakota. Toward landscapes that invite silence and perspective. Sometimes, just knowing there’s something expansive ahead is enough to steady you.
Driving has a way of giving your thoughts room to breathe. No conversations to manage. No expectations to meet. Just miles, music, and time. That’s what this stretch of road became for me. A quiet transition between what was and what might be next.
Why I Keep Going
This journey isn’t about perfection. Or constant optimism. It’s about honesty.
Some days are light. Some days are heavy. Both belong in the story.
Looking Ahead
South Dakota waited patiently on the horizon. More landscapes. More reflection. More space to process what had just happened. And with that, I kept driving.
As always… more on all of this later.
