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!

Totally misses the point of the thread. But

DP got a text from his mum a couple of days ago saying how proud she is of him and how he is so incredible and so brave and how she loves him oh so much. What did he do? Took his daughter to A&E with a raging fever. Just oh so incredible for being… you know, a parent.

But it's not brave if you weren't daunted or failed to appreciate the risks.

The brave are those who are afraid but still speak or act.

You are brave @BodysBroken and I hope that your bravery is rewarded with as many moments of joy as possible

Had triplets all alone (sole parent), work full time, travel overseas somewhere with them every year and go on uk adventures each holiday too. Teenagers now and it’s always been just us

Snap me too… but I was in a hospital in Ireland ran by Nuns and nurses, as a single parent it was terrible. It’s taught me I can do anything I put my mind too.

Spinal surgery for cauda equina and recovery alone

Moved house to an area I didn't know, knew not a soul there, no job, just moved far away from my friends and family.

Yes i kind of agree.

I went to uni in europe which looking back was a huge deal and my best friend cried like i was dying but i was pretty chilled about it.

Cycled across a continent on my own. Had never owned a bike before my trip. Learnt the beauty of freedom on 2 wheels and the kindness of strangers.

Travelling solo to Belarus,Russia etc... as a young 22 years old.
Jumping in enormous waves as a 6 years old with no parental supervision.
Starting big school at 10, travelling 15 miles by school bus and entering the huge grey fortress the school was (with 3000 pupils,a shock after my countryside school of 30!).
Travelling in an overnight train for a summer camp 300 miles away at 10. Staying at the camp for 4 weeks without seeing my family.
Saving my 6 years old sister from drowning as huge currents were pulling us towards whirlpools of water against rocks.
Walking in the snow through woods and fields for 2 h to go home after our school coach got stuck in snowdrift. Nicking mobile phones at the time. My feet were blue when I arrived home.
Picking up my children from school and carrying on as normal despite having just learnt some horrifying family news.
Many times when my son had a meltdown (autism). Staying calm and collected despite wanting to collapse in a puddle.

Most of these situations mean I didn't really have a choice in being brave or not (apart travelling solo and going on the summer camp, which I wanted to do).

I'm not sure I would ever be brave enough to do a parachute jump or something else like that.

Flew to Oregon to meet a penpal when I was 18yo. Back in the day of snail mail where you couldn't find out about any ones background, had no way to contact home except reverse charge phone calls and no location trackers etc. I had an amazing time but now I'm old(er) I can see all the potential dangers that I didn't see then!

Also, home births - the doctor made a fuss about me having my first baby at home because of my age but I went ahead anyway. I was 22yo and it went really well. I had all my four babies at home with no pain relief.

20 years ago I travelled solo through countries I wouldn’t travel alone (or in company) now - China, Russia, Peru, Bolivia….. still glad I did it at the time though!

Gave birth and looked after DD in hospital with no partner (and an abusive one at home) at 17 during lockdown. I just got on with it at the time but it’s horrifying to me now how alone I really was now that I am having my second with a new, absolutely amazing partner.

Gave birth and raised my babies straight after loosing my wonderful mother. Looking back I am so proud of how I managed and hope she is proud of me as well.

Exclusively pumping for the first year of my baby’s life when I couldn’t breastfeed her

Going on holiday with my husband when I’d just found out he was cheating, without
a) letting on that I knew or
b) murdering him
then secretly taking steps to file for divorce

and this week: removing a dead pigeon from the flat roof outside an upstairs window using a dustpan on a long stick (it had sadly crashed into the window and not lived to tell the tale). Horrible job!

Changed a wheel, on a Nissan micra, on the hard shoulder of the M1, drivers side with Lorries whizzing past, on Christmas Eve. It was probably a stupid thing to do but I was a student, newly passed my test driving up from Bristol to Sheffield and just wanted to get home for Christmas before it got too late.

Flew into New York aged 18 and travelled to Chicago alone in the style of Race Across the World-no hotels, no mobile phone, just a few timetables and travellers cheques! Made it and have a lot of stories to tell!

Travelled to New Zealand, via Bali age 20. Didn’t even think about it at the time.

Quite. If you weren't afraid ypu weren't being brave, you were just living life.

Then you weren't doing something brave. You lived your life. NZ is a safe country with English as its language.

No big deal.

Immigrated to a new country at age 20. Alone. Still live in this country 20 years later.

Man, you clearly haven't seen the lawless sinful streets of Rotovegas.

Sounds silly but supporting my parents while they were dying, which all happened within a period of about four months; the deaths themselves being ten weeks apart. Had I known beforehand what was coming I’d have thought ‘I can’t do that’. But I did do it and I did it well.

This isn't silly. So much respect for this. It's hard.

I Slept through constant nightmares, for almost 2 years sound asleep.