On the beach, Scout turns into a full-blown maniac.
Normally, she loves people — she's a friendly, brown-eyed lab who wants to say hi to everyone.
But not on the beach.
Not when there's a ball in your hand.
She doesn’t see humans. She doesn't see dogs. Hyper-focused, eyes locked. Throw the ball. The ball. The ball.
A few weeks ago, a sweet little boy wanted to say hi to her.
He wanted to pet her. Chase her. Play with her. He ran laps around her. Zoomed past her.
Scout didn’t flinch. Ball. Ball. Throw the ball.
He did a little dance in front of her, arms flailing for attention.
She scooted sideways to lock eyes with the ball again — totally unfazed.
"Here, try throwing this for her," I said.
He threw it short, a bit of stage fright from being put on the spot. It landed a few feet away.
She didn't care... it was full attack mode. Kill the ball. Bring it back. Obsessed and vibrating with anticipation.
Ball ball ball.
The boy's smile was electric. He had power!
He threw it farther. She chased it down. He tossed it into the water. She dove right in.
He wound up to the right, then spun left at the last second — trying to fake her out.
Every time, she took off running before the ball even left his hand — spinning mid-stride — ready to catch it in the exact spot it eventually fell.
The boy stood there wide-eyed amazed. “Your dog can see the future,” he whispered, like he'd just met a wizard.
But Scout doesn’t need magic — she’s reading the signs.
The direction of his eyes. The quick inhale. The shift in his stance.
She’s not seeing the future.
She’s profiling him.
It looks like a superpower, but it’s not.
That’s what it’s like when you can profile manipulators.
You're not fooled by the wind-ups and fake-outs.
You see where they’re aiming, predict the moves they’re about to make, and know exactly where they’re trying to land.
Because manipulators always tell you — through their behavior — before they ever make a move.
That’s exactly what we train on Day 2 of Un-Manipulatable, my 5-day live training that starts in just a few weeks.
You’ll learn how to read what someone’s doing — and why — no matter how charming, polished, or pitiful they seem.
We’ll walk through the 9 core behavior patterns narcissists and manipulators use to gain power, attention, or control — and how to recognize them early, before you're pulled in.
It’s not magic.
It just feels like it — once you know what to look for.
Training starts September 8th, but enrollment is open now.
To give you the highest value (and to keep me sane), I'm keeping this training intentionally small. There are only 6 discounted spots left (as of this morning).
Tool for Empowerment: The Direction Check
If you want to know where a relationship or interaction is headed — pay attention to what it costs you.
Ask Yourself:
Does this relationship cost me too much time, energy, or attention?
Does this relationship feel sustainable?
Lesson:
If it regularly drains you — if you’re giving more than you can afford — that’s a sign it’s not healthy. It’s pointing in the wrong direction.
But if it feels balanced — like you could keep showing up this way without burning out or building resentment — that’s a sign pointing in a healthy direction.
When you catch the direction early, you don’t have to wait for things to fall apart. You already know where it’s going — and whether or not you want to go with it.
This Conversation Hack Makes You Un-Manipulatable
Most manipulation happens in conversation—and it sounds polite. In this post, learn the simple shift that makes you instantly unmanipulatable, how to stop overexplaining, and the exact phrases to shut down guilt, pressure, and control before they start.
Have a great day,
Meadow