Stop Running & Embrace Who You Really Are

If you asked me about travel, I’d tell you that it’s been one of the most expansive and fulfilling parts of my life. Visiting different places and cultures over the past decade has shaped who I am. But if you asked me on a deeper level, I’d say that travel—especially leaving home—saved my life.

As a first-born daughter, I always knew I needed more than what my familial environment could provide. So, I ran. I traveled to cities where I could just be, watch life pass by, and reclaim my independence. It was an escape, a way to break free from rules, duties, and expectations.

But what they don’t tell you is that it becomes hard to stop running. As I’ve taken stock of my life recently, I realized that a lot of what I’m trying to escape are actually good things—things that require courage, vulnerability, and a deeper commitment to myself.

For the past four years, I’ve been in the same place physically. And while this is the longest I’ve stayed in one spot as an adult, it’s been a challenge to accept that I can rest and stop running.

Mahshid’s poem comes to mind: “No matter where you go, you will take YOU with yourself there again.” The truth is, the only way to move forward is to stop running from our problems and real change. Whether it’s anxiety, insecurities, or fears, we have to face them. External circumstances might offer temporary relief, but true progress comes from committing to ourselves, our values, and boundaries.

What if, instead of running, you took a deep breath and trusted yourself? What if you honored your desires and accepted your flaws? What if you gave yourself permission to thrive?

Unlearning old habits is difficult, but they often served us in survival. As I let go of these habits, I acknowledge their role in getting me to this point where I no longer need them.

These days, I’m learning to listen to my heart, and I’m getting closer to a place where I don’t feel the need to leave—because that place is within myself.