Should I Run Away and Start a New Life? Honest Thoughts You Need

The urge to run away: where does it come from?

We’ve all had that moment — sitting in traffic, or staring blankly at the ceiling at 2AM — thinking: "What if I just disappeared? Started fresh somewhere no one knows me?" Sounds kind of freeing, right?

But this feeling usually doesn’t come out of nowhere. It often stems from emotional burnout, chronic stress, toxic relationships, or just… feeling stuck. When life feels like it’s spinning in circles, running seems like a straight line out.

It’s not always about “escape”

Sometimes it’s not about avoiding something bad — it’s about craving something better. A simpler life. A real connection. A version of you that isn’t buried under bills, regret, or the weight of other people’s expectations.

A friend of mine moved from a hectic corporate job in London to a quiet island in Greece. He didn't just run — he pivoted. Different energy entirely. And you know what? He’s not rich, but he finally sleeps at night.

Should you actually do it? The real pros and cons

Pros of starting over

• Clean slate: New people, new city, no baggage (at least not the kind everyone can see).

• Self-discovery: When you remove the noise, you start to hear your own voice again.

• Freedom to redefine yourself: You’re no longer locked into the version of you people expect.

• Mental clarity: A new environment can do wonders for a fogged-up brain.

Cons (because yes, there are plenty)

• Running doesn’t solve everything. The same patterns might follow you.

• You leave behind more than you think. Relationships, routines, maybe even stability.

• It’s emotionally and logistically exhausting. Finding housing, income, community — that’s no joke.

• Loneliness can hit hard. Especially if you underestimate how much your identity was tied to where you were.

What to ask yourself before making a move

Is it a temporary feeling — or something deeper?

Are you just having a bad week? Or have you been feeling this way for months, even years? Be honest with yourself. Sometimes a new job or a serious conversation can fix what you thought required a passport and a new name.

What are you actually trying to leave behind?

If the thing you want to run from is internal (like shame, depression, identity confusion), it’ll follow you on the plane. But if it’s external — toxic family, a dead-end job, soul-draining routine — a new start might really help.

One girl I met in Thailand told me she left her hometown because she was always the “responsible daughter” and it was suffocating. Now she teaches yoga, and she said: “I didn't run away. I just stopped waiting for permission to live.”

Do you have a plan — or just a fantasy?

Spontaneity sounds sexy, but reality bites. Do you have savings? A place to go? A visa if needed? It’s one thing to dream of vanishing to Bali, another to realize your tourist visa expires in 30 days and you’re broke.

Alternatives to completely running away

You don’t always have to blow up your whole life to change it.

• Take a solo trip — even a weekend away can reset your head

• Switch jobs or go remote — sometimes it’s the environment, not the entire zip code

• Cut toxic ties — you can start over emotionally without moving geographically

• Therapy or coaching — cliché? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.

Sometimes you just need to shake the snow globe, not throw it off a cliff.

So… should you run away and start a new life?

It depends.

If it’s a form of self-preservation, if you’ve thought it through, if you’re not just chasing some movie-montage dream — maybe it’s exactly what you need.

But if it’s avoidance, escapism, or hope that changing your surroundings will magically fix your insides? It might backfire. You might end up in a new city with the same emotional hangover.

Running is easy. Rebuilding is hard. Reinventing? That takes guts — no matter where you are.

So ask yourself not just “should I run away?” but “what am I running toward?” If you have an answer to that… maybe it’s time.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.