If you’re going to run away

Pack lightly,

Unless you have a car then take what you want,

But if you are running barefooted and wild take what’s essential.

Write a list so you are sure not to miss a thing.

Food for when you get hungry,

Water for when you get thirsty,

Take something that will remind you of why you are running,

A picture, a self-written note.

Just something so you won’t run back and hide under your covers for safety.

Bring extra clothes for when you get dirty.

Choose wisely of course, check the weather,

Try them all on and see that they fit properly.

Bring Money you’ll need it,

More than you think by at least two times.

So save and salvage what you can.

Put all these items in a bag.

One that doesn’t hurt your shoulders and doesn’t hang too low.

Put your shoes on

Make sure they fit with just enough room to run.

Leave a note if you want to,

Saying goodbye or good riddance.

Make sure you say everything you want to say

Because that will soon be all of you.

Then finally run out your door as fast as you can and don’t stop running.

Get far away from the pain that is behind you make sure it can’t catch up.

Change your name.

Cut your hair.

Figure a destination and stay there or run it’s up to you.

Because once you start running away, there is no coming back.

Not back to same.

Meet someone new,

Someone who inspires you.

Let them be your company.

Don’t watch the news, or read the paper.

Take time to breath.

Take time to sit and watch the sky and feel the water.

Take time to take it easy,

Take time to think and cry

Listen to the sounds around you

Speak the words you to want to say even if no one wants to hear you.

When you think of going back,

Think about the pain and the bruises,

The emotional roller-coaster going up and down and side to side

And in your mind you sit alone,

So tired and worthless.

Be reminded of the stress that overcame you and drowned you,

And buried you deep in the ground.

Think about the lets downs, and broken promises.

The tricks and the taunting nature of those that were around you.

Be free from that.

And if you feel lonely,

There are people all around you running away just as you are,

Running from schools

And grades,

And the future,

And friends,

And family,

And occupations,

And commitments,

And abuse and hate,

And love,

And all the things that keep us running.

Running with the wind in our hair and our eyes up to the sun.

But you,

You will get tired of running and there will be a time when you have to stop,

Stop and look back or look forward

Its only then that you’ll learn

You can’t run from yourself.