What is the bravest thing you have ever done?

It all depends what one defines as brave because hundreds more like me went through 57 days and nights of continual bombing during the London Blitz way back in 1940. We had already been bombed out twice.
I was just 10years old then and had already been machine gunned like others while hop-picking when the war first started by a Jerry that got through our weak defences and shot down after a dog fight with a Spitfire.

Rosethorn, it doesn't matter what that stupid SW thought. Write a letter to them saying how they made you feel. You don't have to actually show it to anyone. I hope it proves cathartic for you.

I have been humbled reading this post.

Sitting by my mother's bedside and holding her hand while her life support machine was turned off.

My bravest thing was I booked then went on a weeks coach trip by myself! Doesn't sound like much but I don't cope with groups of people or new people. I find it very hard to mix and talk to others so it was a really terrifying exp erience. But I really enjoyed myself met some lovely people ( mets some really horrible ones too) I enjoyed it so much went on several other trips saw some beautiful British countryside

I’m in tears reading some of your inspiring stories aren’t women wonderful? I take my hat off to you all. ???

Anyone who has been through cancer and treatments, as I have, yes, you/we are brave. It takes courage to go through it, especially as you've no choice or control, and sort yourself out mentally too. Well done! Be proud of yourself. Such inspiring, awesome stories on this great thread. Just getting up each day is bravery for many of us. ?

Bravest? Making the decision to let my Dad go. We had discussed DNR, but letting that happen is something else.
Scariest: a walk across the Pont de Normandie. Scared of heights, but grandmas will do anything for their grandchildren.

Not sure if it was brave. Instinct just took over when my DH collapsed. I performed CPR for over 30 minutes until the paramedics arrived and confirmed what I already knew. I then had to contact my 3 DDs, one in Australia, which was the worst thing ever. I managed to arrange for each of them to be with someone. My youngest answered the phone and told me with delight that her MiL had just arrived unexpectedly. The horrendous wail that followed after I told her that her beloved Daddy had died will remain in my head for ever.

Being married to a serial womanizer, going round to see two of the women he was having affairs with. I’m
not a confrontational person so this was really hard.
After we split up, I was a mess but I was desperate to build myself a new life. I threw myself into dating. Looking back I don’t know how I did it, especially as there was so much trauma going on behind the scenes.
Also, I’d as I’d always wanted to visit Scotland I did five separate trips, on my own, up to the Inner and Outer Hebrides exploring the Islands.

Bravery comes in many shapes and sizes. It can be making that phone call to book an appointment, as someone said earlier. We have all been brave in our lives, I know I have. Facing up to school every day knowing I’d be bullied, holding on to life by the skin of my teeth after pre eclampsia and then sitting by my tiny son’s incubator as he also strove to survive, surviving breast cancer twice, holding my mother’s hand as she died. How so many of you have done what you’ve done and yet you still have the courage to face the day amazes me. We are all much stronger than we think.

gingster I did the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb in 2005. Our daughter who lives there booked it for us as a birthday gift and we all did it together. I honestly thought we’d be roped up and would have to scale it from the road below on the outside. ?

This is my worst but also brave moment because you never know what’s around the corner in life.
after having the police at the door telling me that my son Henry was critical after a car accident, I was terrified but then had to get to the hospital with my two daughters and partners, we were told he would have a brain scan but if no activity then he would just pass away. Hubby was in USA, it took 13 calls to contact him, the police told him to get on a plane and don’t expect him to be alive when he got off!

Thankfully there was brain activity and we endured months of surgery, rehab and endless struggles to rebuild our 6’6” gentle giant. The toll of trying to be strong was beyond exhausting and we nearly lost him countless times.

Three years later and successfully nearly completing his first year of university my beautiful son fell asleep at uni and never woke up.

At his funeral my hubby and I stood together both with our own written words. He started and I was to follow, halfway through he just couldn’t carry on. He nudged me and I had to complete his heart wrenching eulogy and then lighten the whole situation with Henry’s growing up years. I just don’t know where I got the strength and courage to do that and not break down but I was determined to do my boy proud.

My beautiful son forever 24 passed the day he was due 24/4/14.
We now have a little grandson Henry who is his double and at 18 months has some seriously big shoes to fill ❤️

The first thing that came to my mind was climbing the steps for the second time in the newly opened pool with flumes and launching off for that horrendous ride a second time. I came down the first time with my youngest child ,a toddler , between my legs and the force hitting the water at the bottom not only forced her head upwards into my face causing me to have a bleeding nose, she also grabbed out to hold onto me clutching at the strap of my swimsuit exposing a boob. . All I could do was tuck my generous boob back where it should be, leave my DD with a pool attendant and climb the stairs in full view of a packed staircase (think school holidays in a new pool). I had to do the horrific ride a second time with my DS who had chickened out of doing it himself. I didn’t have time to blush but the thought of the ‘exposure’ just made me dress myself and 2 children as quickly as possible and leave. I took refuge at a friends house and nursed my sore nose. It was brave for me to ride the flume at all and doing it twice was never on the cards.

Wow, just wow. Had been going to add mine, until I read all the rest.
Think everyone should be congratulated!

Sheilasue

Stand up at the old bailey and read my report to the judge in respect of my sons death against the woman who murdered him.
I was shaking at first and in tears but I managed to pull myself together and speak out for my son I had kept diaries for 8 years .
She got 18 years.

Fabulous, you should be proud of yourself. Hope you got some peace from the verdict

Giving up the best job I ever had in my life, selling my flat & setting off from London on my own to go travelling in my 20s, not knowing where I was going to end up ..scared but also really excited! Worked out really well..so glad I took the risk.!

So many really brave stories. Mine is nothing, in comparison. We had moved to our first house, and I knew no-one. Money was very tight, so when I saw an advert to earn money in my spare time I applied. It turned out to be selling cosmetics door to door, like an Avon lady.
I was horrified. I had always been painfully shy. The lady insisted on leaving me a kit, saying that she would return in two weeks. On the last evening, knowing that I would be mortified to admit that I had been to scared to even try, I ventured out and started knocking on doors. I was scared to death. I don’t know if the neighbours took pity on my obvious terror, but I returned home with lots of orders.
It turned my life around, and I have never been afraid to socialise since then.

Stand up at the old bailey and read my report to the judge in respect of my sons death against the woman who murdered him.
I was shaking at first and in tears but I managed to pull myself together and speak out for my son I had kept diaries for 8 years .
She got 18 years.

Back packed from Israel across Europe on my own in the 70s

Dear wonderful Gransnetians,
I have a problem! I bought a shower body wash sponge about two years ago. The sponge is round and yellow with a “coating” of a light oat colour on one side. The sponge does look like the current sponges that a certain TB. chain stocks. But there’s do not have that oat coloured coating on one side. This sponge is simply wonderful. The sponge never goes hard. The sponge is always soft. I can only assume that this coating on one side is what keeps the sponge in such excellent condition! I always rinse the sponge after each shower. To my mind it’s the perfect shower sponge. I use the sponge everyday to shower. The sponge looks like new!
I cannot remember where I bought the sponge! I’ve looked in all the obvious stockists, both online and in shop, but know one has this particular sponge! I would love to get some more!
Can any of you marvellous Gransnet people help?!!

This is an amazing thread, getting us all thinking about times we've been brave. I suffered badly from bowel disease as a young Mum, it was dreadful and affected many aspects of my health, my life and my confidence. My bravest moments were the initial collectomy op, where my large bowel was removed, the second op to fix adhesions, the third to create a J pouch alternative to my bowel and then a further one in my thirties to correct some problems. Each time I had to summon the courage to endure a foot long wound to my belly and an ileostomy when I woke. I can't deny I was terrified but now age 50 I feel impressed by my younger self's courage. Every story here is an inspiration. We all need a boost sometimes and this has reminded me how far I've come!! Thank you

switching off my husbands life support, beating cancer 2 years ago and in the last month saying goodbye to my partner/companion of 17 years and telling him that i would be fine and it was time for him to go to his first wife and promising that we would all get together when my time comes and keeping to myself that i have cancer again and this time it will be more difficult to get through it without him by my side.
bravery comes in all shapes and sizes, in hospital last month i had 4 injections without the numbing cream as i am so scared of needles ( i use emla cream ) and my darling telling me on the phone how proud he was of me.

I am humbled to read so many of these stories of real courage and heartbreak. What an emotional thread this has been. to all those who have suffered or lost someone.

Joined internet dating a few weeks ago. Very interesting so far the conversations vary from men my age group wanting someone much younger or a housekeeper, some even want another women so that she can converse with their daughters, daughters-in-law and grand daughters about "girly" things. Definitely a hard hat is required.