Sanne Burger’s words put into language what so many of us feel but don’t say. That we’re tired of playing roles. Tired of shrinking, smoothing, softening. Because deep down, the soul craves authenticity—not approval. Adventure—not routine. And yes, sometimes, it needs to burn everything down just to feel alive again.​

I can’t stay, mother. I love you, but I wasn’t born to please you. I wasn’t born to make you happy, or give your life meaning. I wasn’t born to rot under your wings like an unhatched egg.

I can’t stay, teacher. I wasn’t born to be put into your boxes, to think along your lines or to memorize your facts. I was born to think independently.

I can’t stay, my love. I wasn’t born to satisfy your needs, to take care of you, or to hide in your arms. I wasn’t born to make myself smaller or to be taken for granted.

I can’t stay, boss. I wasn’t born to make money for others. I wasn’t born to follow orders or to repeat the same day over and over again. I wasn’t born for boredom.

I can’t stay, master. I wasn’t born to follow your ideas of what truth is, or to live according to your dogmas. I was born to find my own truth and create my own rules.

I was born to meet life full on. To get lost on Andean trails. To be seduced by mysterious men. To meet different faces, places and cultures. To be out in the jungle all night. To run with wolves. To be swept off my feet. To be taken by storm. To be heartbroken. Devastated. Stunned. Shocked. Lost. Thrown into the deep.

I was born to get my hands dirty, to get sand in my mouth, mud on my clothes, thorns under my feet. I was born to jump into the abyss.

I was born to meet aliens. To do ritual. To be cracked open in ceremony. To go beyond time and space. To welcome magic. To totally lose myself.

I was born to feel everything. To taste everything. The bitter taste of sorrow. The foul taste of deceit. The sweet taste of love. I was born to learn how to handle change  gracefully.

I was born to know the truth, born to learn how to fly. I was born to learn how to speak the language of love. How to unchain my heart. How to shed everything. How to let go of all expectations. I was born to learn how it feels to lose everything except what really matters. I was born to live a life that would strip away everything that wasn’t real, that wasn’t true, that wasn’t me.

I am a phoenix.  I am born to spread my wings and fly towards the sun. To burn up and turn to ashes. To fall down to earth and rise up again.

When I am old I will be proud of my scars, my wrinkles, my memories, my stories, my wisdom, my freedom.

I was born to be free. And therefore, I can’t stay.

​