Read This If All You Want To Do Is Run Away From Life

Now that you’ve opened this, let’s get one thing straight: Your life sucks. Maybe you hate your job. Or perhaps, you’re single and desperate to mingle, or are you fed up with the monotony of your relationship? Is it because your parents seem to have made it their lives’ purpose to get you married at the earliest? Or is it that your relatives can’t stop boasting about how well settled their kids are? And your bank balance is, well, let’s not even go there.

Okay, before you shun this piece for making you feel worse, let me tell you the good thing about this.

You are not the only one.

Welcome aboard the 20-Something-Been-There-Done-That-All-I-Want-To-Do-Is-Run-Away Express.

The qualifications to feature on the list are nothing fancy. A job that you hate, a (non-existent?) relationship that sucks or savings that will make you want to hide your face in a cave and never come out again.

Feeling stuck in the monotony, you seek a break, a cheap thrill, a trip to the hills maybe, or a few drinks, to sort your life out – anything to get you out of this mess.

For some of us, it even seems to work. You have a great time. You think you’re rejuvenated and get back with a bang. Until the same downward spiral sucks you in again and there you are, right where you started.

And for others, like yours truly, who fail to take this break, running away is all one can think about.

Now if you’re here thinking I’ll give you a solution for this, you’re at the wrong place. I am here only to tell you that this feeling that you get is not exclusive to you, and we’ve all been there.

Helpless. Tired. Stuck. Absolutely clueless. We’ve all been there.

But you know what? If you really want to change how things are going, don’t look outside for inspiration. Look within.

Hate your job? Quit.

I know it’s easier said than done, but at least make an effort. Post your CV on job portals. If you’ll not do something about this, you’ll be stuck slogging your ass off at a job that you’ve hated for months, or even (god forbid!) years.

Feel lonely? Join a weekend group that interests you.

Hang out with people. Try Tinder if that’s your thing. Just do something about it. Because your knight in shining armour will not come looking for you, neither will that perfect girlfriend you’ve always fantasized about.

Feel like travelling? Save.

Or don’t. Pack your bags and leave. You don’t have to go to fancy places. You’ll figure out the money bit when you’re on the road. You know, that’s the thing about survival. When you don’t have an option, you find ways to do it.

Nothing to look forward to when you come back home? Just do something about it!

Read. Write. Watch movies. There’s so much out there to do. There are people who really don’t have the time to do any of these. Find a hobby. Indulge yourself till you get bored. Then find another one. Spend time on Pinterest. Make DIYs. Compose a song. Learn to play the guitar. Or try out a new language. The possibilities are endless.

So my fellow passenger of the 20-Something Express, figure out what’s wrong. And what’s right. Take decisions. Go ahead with the risks. Experiment. Stop procrastinating. Ask that person out. Open that start up. Do whatever the fuck you’ve always wanted to do. Because, think about it, what do you have to lose?