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?

[MyAmusedOpalCrab]

For example, maybe you travelled solo, went to an event where you didn’t know anyone or made a major life change without much support. At the time it felt normal but now you hear people say, “Wow, that was really brave” and it makes you see it differently.

Curious to hear what things others have done that seemed ordinary at the time but in hindsight, took a lot of courage!

Laboured almost entirely alone at 18 years old

Moved to an unknown city for work, twice, not knowing anyone. I thought this was what everyone did but most people I subsequently met had been brought up there and never moved away.

I wondered this too. Or is it a journo?

Once pulled over to drag a young driver out of a smoking car that had hit a tree. Never gave it a thought tbh.. She was only bothered about her alcohol for a festival that was in the footwell.
Her dm came to get her and didn't even thank me!
Once drove a car full of dc to Portugal from England..

Much love

Travelled to the USA by myself at 10 to meet my Dad for the first time (parents separated before I could remember him).

Left home by myself at 15 and moved in with my bf, who was at uni at the time.

The latter definitely has some legal implications so I try not to tell anyone about it.

Was posted overseas for 4 months on secondment with my job, alone. I didn't think twice, still wouldn't.

I've holidayed alone too (a city break), it was great.

I'll never forget when my manager, a woman in her late 30s, director in a large global firm, and mother of two, was over the moon with herself because she sat in a cafe on her lunch break and had a jacket potato on her own!! She'd NEVER done it before!!

Stepped in front of a huge thug of a man beating up a young lad of about 16. I did it alone because everyone else (including lots of men) just stood around watching. I was incandescent with rage. Not sure if it was brave or stupid but I wasn’t going to stand by and watch it happen. I’m 5 foot 3 but have a big mouth 😂

Had no choice but to be completely independent at the age of 18 when my mum died suddenly. It was just the 2 of us at home

This thread demonstrates that bravery can be literally anything. Doing something that makes us afraid. Just getting on with it. It can be a little thing or a big thing. It depends on who’s looking.
I know I’ve been brave my whole life and honestly, reading this thread, we all are. ❤️

I remember other people at University open days saying I was brave for going alone. It never crossed my mind to ask my parents!

Drove myself to hospital for my hysterectomy. Really didn’t want to be alone but had to be there early and had no childcare so DH had to stay at home. That was a very lonely morning sitting waiting to go in to theatre.

Moved to another country to start a new life as a single parent with 2 children. I could never make such a huge decision now but I felt invincible back then.

I went to live abroad aged 21 in a country where I knew nobody and couldn’t speak the language. No mobile phones then, I didn’t even have a phone. It was fantastic, an adventure

I travelled through Jordan but people thought I was mad rather than brave! It was easy and wonderful and I didn't have men flash me/ask me for a blow job/put their arm round me on a train/get naked in a shower cubicle behind me while I cleaned my teeth there. That all happened travelling solo in Europe. In Jordan I felt much safer!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.....

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

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!

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.