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Sometimes, I Want to Outrun Myself— But I Can’t

Turns out it’s a lifelong race I’ll never win; I’m stuck with me.

Sylvie
Know Thyself, Heal Thyself
2 min readJan 8, 2025

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A picture of what looks like a bride in a wedding dress running across an expansive green field towards a building
Photo by dylan nolte on Unsplash

Sometimes I want to run — run away from myself. So I jog and trot and sprint and race some more.
And when I can’t run anymore, I realize I’m still with me.
No matter how far I go, I’m still stuck with me.

Turns out I can’t outrun myself.
I can’t even temporarily escape my skin, let alone discard it.
The only time I ever wished I was Joe Blake— a snake — as I crave to shed my skin like one.

Alas! I can’t take a break from myself!
Confucius was right when he said,

“And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.”

Sometimes I want to crawl…
Out of my skin.
And at times, I crave a break from my own life.
But…
But it won’t let me.
“Darling,” it tells me, “we’re stuck with each other — for life.”
“But can’t I just have a short vacation?” I ask.
The answer has never been yes! I guess it never will be.
“My shadow could hold the fort,” I beg.
Still, it’s a no-no!

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Know Thyself, Heal Thyself
Know Thyself, Heal Thyself

Published in Know Thyself, Heal Thyself

Authenticity, vulnerability, awareness & growth through storytelling, sharing of personal experiences, and knowledge on spiritual matters.

Sylvie
Sylvie

Written by Sylvie

I see extra in the ordinary & give it words; chasing mental health/healing. Love forests, nature, fitness, clean eating. Yoga trainer, fitness coach. CoffeeSnob

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