What would you guys do if you wanted to run away?

I contemplate “running away” all the time, but I’m 23 and I have some money saved up. Sometimes I think there’s nothing holding me back, other than my fear, which is probably true.

But I think you’re probably pretty young and all I can tell you is that it’s a hard fucking world out there. Even by the time people are 18, a lot of us aren’t ready to be thrust into all of the responsibility that comes with the age. If you aren’t prepared, just don’t do it. I don’t know what’s making you feel this way, but truly having no one to turn to or rely on is harder than you probably realize. You may already feel like you have no one to rely on, which might be the case, but if you face this world on your own, it’s going to be that much harder if you don’t have enough money to take care of yourself.

You have to find inner strength. That’s the only thing it boils down to. Life could very well feel impossibly hard right now, but you will make it through. Once you are at a place in your life where you know that you can safely start over, do it, if you still want to. You’ll also be that much stronger emotionally, which will help you through life more than you know.

A sharp knife, good set of directions, pennicillin, water tablets, duct tape and a hustler magazine. That covers my journey.

Well… How old are you? is there really no answer other than running away? I don’t think it’s wise. My fiance ran away when he was 16 and he says it is the biggest mistake of his life. I think you need to find someone who can help you with whatever problems you are having. It’s really hard for me to give you an answer not knowing all the details.

I’d call a hotline.

You’re thirteen judging by your profile, running away is not a wise choice.

From their website:
We can help you talk it out. We’re here to listen. All calls are confidential and free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We won’t tell you what to do and we’re not here to give out advice. We aim to help you help yourself. We talk through your problems and help you find a plan of action. Help is available. Call 1–800-RUNAWAY now to speak with someone, or check out our other resources and services below.

This is a conversation better had in person, with someone you respect, possibly over a couple drinks, but I’ll give it my best:

I did. When I was 16 I became legally emancipated and I left home. My parents were pretty f-ing lame at parenting and I thought I could do better.

The truth is, I think I did. But I was still completely, desperately broke and miserable. I worked jobs that were, at best, soul-crushing. I only did it for about a year before I went to college. And that saved me.

Sometimes you have no choice other than to rely on yourself. If you truly believe that you can make it, then get the eff out of there and make it happen. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Don’t ever believe you’re less than other people. Don’t ever feel like a fuckup because you’re not like other people.

But think very, very, very carefully about what you’re sacrificing. Have a plan, and a backup plan, and a backup for your backup plan. Your biggest worry is not what you can plan for, but for what you can’t. And if all you need is someone to talk to, I’ll send you my email address or phone number.

Happy christmas. Take good care of yourself.

yap, I’m with asmonet on this one. Get to dialing, you won’t regret it.

If you really are only 13, definitely call the number asmonet posted. You won’t make it out there on your own right now. I’m not trying to discourage you, but I am trying to keep you safe. The world is truly a scary place when you’re alone and I don’t advise attempting anything right now. Talk it out with someone, at least, before you make any decisions.

Thank you, great peoples of fluther, for answering my question. Your answers were all wicked, and by the time I bothered to check (I didn’t think anybody would be on at the moment) my highly powerful reasonal side overcame the artsy-passionate side. I don’t know if I’m to happy about that, but my problems are far and few, so I’ll be good. Again, thanks.

Talk, talk, talk. To a counselor, pastor, teacher, any trusted adult. I’m glad you’re feeling better for the moment, but it still can’t hurt to have an adult in your corner.

If you have grandparents or aunts/uncles you can talk to, please do that if nothing else.
Above all, be safe.

@cinderflubbin: Fluther comes out full-force to help those in need. That’s a fact. If things ever do get very bad, please, please, please, put niki’s contact info and the hotline into your cell phone. It might just be if the shit hits the fan you won’t have time to run to the internet. They have excellent resources for teens in all kinds of crisis and even if you’re not thinking of running away they can hook you up or refer you to others for more help.

I hope things look up, continue to have your problems be ‘few and far between’ and you never have to use any of those options. Hugs.

Glad you were able to let reason talk you out of it. It’s a big decision, and not one that should be made on a whim.

Thanks for coming to Fluther with this question. You sound very mature for a thirteen-year-old.

I have been running away for years now and I just want to find a place to stay…
maybe you should just be content? life sucks and then you get over it, or die, but the former happens first!

Read Into the Wild. I’ve though about running away from it all many times as an adult, but I always realized that I have too much to stay around here for, such as family and friends who love me and who I would miss greatly when they’re not around.

I’ve also thought to myself, would things really be better for me in a different geographic location, or is what I’m running away from really in my head. I tried to think towards the future and I always just saw myself ultimately just working in a place where I knew nobody, missing the people I left behind.

I tried once.I ran, I ran so far away. I just ran, I ran all night and day. turns out i couldnt get away

I ran away from home at 17, traveled over three thousand miles and made it. I never went home, and I never regretted it. I had not a dollar in my pocket, no food, and just the clothes that could fit in my backpack.

I was distracted and unable to finish or edit my previous answer. What I meant to say was, it worked fine for me and vastly improved my life in every area. But it was hard and I had to survive and I only got what I got by fighting for it or taking it.