What’s something you did alone that you didn’t think was a big deal at the time but now when others mention it, you realise it was actually brave?

Travelled around the country (and abroad on occasion) to work in various strip clubs.

I don't regret it, but I do sometimes look back and think I'd not feel safe doing that now.

Left my family's home on xmas day after my Dad squared up to me (my Dad is an ex bodybuilder, fat now but a LARGE man).

Not killing myself. I went through two years where I had to talk myself out of it every day. But I have never told anyone, not even DH ( he knows a bit, but not the full extent).

At the time, in my muddled thinking, I assumed that most people went through a similar process of talking themselves out of suicide. It's only when I confided in a health professional that I realised that it wasn't an ordinary thing.

Told my MIL what l thought of her behaviour, despite having little support from my husband and being in Pakistan without my mum

I think anything that pushes you out of your comfort zone and makes you nervous is brave! That’s different for everyone. For me, some things that have made me nervous but I did anyway are: travel solo for months around Europe and Australia, move to a city 500 miles from where I grew up knowing nobody, doing talks for my work in front of hundreds of people.

Flew to NYC on my own last year after spending the last 8 years battling serious mental illness, including anorexia, agoraphobia and being hospitalised under section 3 times. I was pretty proud of myself for that!

Thank you, but this relative and their siblings helped me through very difficult times in the past and it was such an honour to be able to do something in return.

You first OP

That’s amazing.

Moved countries solo (multiple times).

Travelled solo.

I donated a kidney to a very sick relative

Going to hospital by ambulance whilst pregnant with DS2 after a bleed. It was the middle of the night and we didn’t want to disturb DS1 so husband stayed at home with him and came to the hospital the next morning. It was what it was - sometimes you just need to get on with life.

Thank you so much.

DH removes our spiders despite being scared of them himself, as DS and I can't deal with them. One of many reasons I love him.

DD(9) doesn't mind them so she actually catches the majority now!

Intervened in an escalating scene in MacDonalds where a man with SN was screaming at the poor girl behind the counter and being verbally abusive. Everyone was just watching and the girl was in tears. Managed to calm the chap down and get him on his way with his order,but I suppose he could have been armed or something.
I'm not a MH specialist so probably didn't use the right language but my maternal/ teacher voice kicked in along the lines of
" Right,sir,let's stop.shouting and I can help you to get your order. No, she isn't a cnt and that's not a nice thing to say,is it?
What do you want me to do? Do you want to put this in yr bag?" Etc.

This. The way the Q is worded confused me as being off. Your comment made me realise why!

So for me in the context of this, was going to see my dad when he was in hospice and very close to death. Was during Covid and no one else from my family was attending (for various reasons) so had no one to get strength from.

Felt sick to my stomach and was so scared every morning travelling down to see him as he was wasting away in front of me and deteriorating rapidly daily. Lost his voice in the last few days, just desperately wide eyes looking at me when he had the energy. I used to put on my ‘Mary Poppins’ persona and talk about nonsense, show him YouTube videos on my phone about his birthplace in India which I height he’d enjoy.

I was only allowed an hour and when I got back home, I’d comfort eat to the point of throwing up. He died after just a two week stay and I was just so grateful that I only wavered once when I just didn’t have the courage to go in one of the days - but otherwise despite not having a good relationship with him due to his very unkind behaviour towards me clashing over career/arranged marriage etc, I did face my fear and so glad I did and he wasn’t left alone. One of the selfless things that I think in the end meant everything to both of us even though nothing about that was of course said.

I used to go on holiday abroad alone, go to heavy metal gigs alone and travel great distances alone. I didn't realise it was allegedly brave!

Now I'm 44, I think the bravest thing i did was move out at 16 (mother an alcoholic), get a bedsit and pay the rent while I did my a-levels. I can't fathom where I had the courage!

Left my wife. Took me about 6 years to summon up the courage to do it.

Could be any however you'd have thought the OP could intro the post with her own experience. Even if it's made up.
Be interesting to see how many leads she/he gets.....

Travelling by train from London to Warsaw in 1984 at the age of 23. The train's ultimate destination was Moscow. I had to get off at 4am. The document check in Berlin took place in a subterranean hall circled by armed military and alasatians,and you were locked into a short corridor while the official silently looked you up and down, your passport hidden beneath a ledge. A slanted mirror ran along the corner of the ceiling so the official could see if you were reaching in your pockets or bags. I shared my eight-seat carriage with seven Polish soldiers. I didn't see it as brave so that may mean it wasn't.

When I was 17, I started university 3000 miles from my home. I travelled to the university by myself sight unseen. I had to figure out everything on my own. However, compared with some of these posts, I don't think that was particularly brave. My heart goes out to many of you.

Packed up our house into storage, sold our car, , got my cat shifted to Mum's (Thanks Mum!) and then travelled across the world on my own to meet DH in the UK, where he'd already set up for us with his new job. The only time I'd been out of NZ before that was with my parents to my sister's wedding in Australia, when I was fifteen.

@BodysBroken I'm sorry you are facing this. I admire your dignity. You are brave.

I think bravery and courage is doing something in the face of your fear of it, so I don’t think ‘not thinking it was a big deal at the time’ applies.

Grieved for a loved one on my own. No friends or family near me, new job. It was only when I lost another loved one and had more support did I realise how strong I was.