What is the bravest thing you have ever done?

Took the leap and took early retirement from a job I had done for 40 years. Miss it but until I left I really didn't realise what it was doing to me, so much so my husband told me 6 months after leaving that he now had his wife back and begged me not to return to any work. They replaced me with 2 x Sisters, but were happy for me to carry on if I had stayed.

Having to cope with everything and be strong after my baby son died because my husband already suffered from severe anxiety and depression and I had to be his support.

Living with my husband when he was having numerous psychotic episodes, and not asking for help. Sometimes bravery and foolishness go hand in hand.

I had my first baby on my own no family or partner I was 19 and very frightened midwife was good but I was on my own for most of the 7 hours. When I think back to it I dont know how I did it

Coming to England alone from South Africa at age 20. Getting pregnant a few months later. Marrying the father a few months after that. Having to get a job while my children were still very small. Bringing them up as well as we could. Travelling to all sorts of countries with them when I was terrified of flying. Going to New Zealand alone to visit my son who was a doctor there. While there went paragliding.
Looking after my husband who had Alzheimers for 6 years. Then travelled alone to many countries including Vietnam, Ecuador, the Galapagos islands. Climbed a volcano. Went to Brazil with my daughter.
The whole thing about living is we are brave every day without even realising it.

At sixty after leaving a toxic relationship of 20 years, I decided to move 100 miles away to the coast, alone, leaving family and friends behind. Then I started fostering children, something I had always wanted to do and it changed my life. I loved it and all the children. I continued until I reached 70, then went on to respite care to give foster families breaks.

Went to Australia on my own in 1974. Those blue airmail letters were vital!!

During a period of about four years I managed to get out of a difficult marriage (repercussions still scary after 23 years), do a BA honours degree while working part time during a very difficult time financially, new relationship which caused me to climb the difficult path to the top of Snowdon aged 52. Moving to France a few years later was nothing like as scary as those years! I suppose marrying for the third time after 20 years together was also a bit scary.

Had 2 very good friends at school at 14 yrs old. One evening they said there was a party at some boys house. We went there and had alcoholic drink. About 10 minutes later these dishes came around with pills on. Think they were called uppers and downers not sure. My friends took one each but I got up and left. Walked home alone and lost 2 great friends. Didn't speak to me after that but I'm proud I didn't take drugs. Was too scared to take them and never have since. It was the swinging sixties so pills were everywhere at the time. I think that was brave as there was a lot of pressure to join in.

I've spent a lot of time in the E African bush and for exercise I used to walk round the research centre 'fire break'. I look back on it now and realise how lucky I was to survive. If you think the Madeira cable car is scary, you should try the cable car up to Big Buddha in Hong Kong. I found it exciting but our fellow passengers were quaking. On second thoughts, you probably need to be brave just to Hong Kong now.

When I was 32 I had given up my job as a teacher in a secondary school to look after my two young children. Money was tight and I had the opportunity of some evening teaching when I could happily leave the children at home with my husband.
The job was teaching drama in, what was then called, a Borstal with young offenders aged 16 to 21. There was no syllabus or curriculum. I had a free hand. I will never forget the first time I was led through corridors and numerous doors were locked behind me and I was then confronted by eight young offenders waiting to be “ entertained”. A prison officer sat outside the door and I had a panic button. I was terrified!
The sessions were 90 minutes long and the first one seemed endless. It turned out to be a very rewarding experience and I stayed there for six years until I was ready to return to full time work. I never used the panic button!

Saving two lives, both children. One was on a ward where I was on my own with post op tonsillectomies, a child had a massive bleed and was choking.
A neighbour ran to me with her baby who had swallowed a toothpaste cap, I hung her head down over my knee and patted between her shoulder blades and the cap popped out.
Fighting cancer was something that had to be done, I didn't count myself brave.

Travelling on public transport alone, going to an unknown place with only yourself to rely on.

I take my hat off to all you brave ladies.
I found the courage to leave my abusive relationship while living in France. One morning I packed up my car booked a ferry ticket and drove to the ferry port so scared of that drive.
I hadn’t done it alone before and was worried sick I’d take the wrong exit of the motorway. Came back not knowing a soul where I landed and lived for 7 lonely years before meeting my current partner.

Home alone. 9 months pregnant. Middle of night sound of breaking glass at back of house.
Options - hide in cupboard, flee out of the front door or.....
Run downstairs, hormones flooding thru’ me, grab fire poker, run out the front door and down side alley, wearing only voluminous white nightdress, and run at the conservatory where I was hoping to catch ‘them’ breaking in ......to find the cat had fallen thru’ the old conservatory roof.
NEVER cross a a hormonal pregnant female - insane courage

I’m 54 and won’t even go into a cafe by myself.
Both my grown up boys are travelling around the world, not together but in 2019 they worked out their route so they could be in the same country at the same time.
The place that they decided on was Cambodia. ( I’m in the UK) . During one video call with them they both said how great it would be if I joined them.
First thought was no way, I can’t travel all that way. I hate getting on a bus into the next town.
However second though was.... why not, I wanted to see my boys.
So before I could have second thoughts I booked a flight and a hotel. Wasn’t going to stay in a hostel like my boys. ?
And it was the bravest and best thing I have done.
I now go into cafes alone and I’ve even travelled to Germany just before lock down by myself.

Whilst working for a multinational company, standing on a podium and giving a presentation to 100+ employees from around the world

I was in a charity shop with my mum and baby in a push chair. Two men came in snatched my purse from my bag and ran. I wasn’t too well off but what I had I needed for my food shopping. I didn’t give it another thought I ran after them and caught up with them in a car park. They hid behind a car . I demanded my purse back I told them I needed my money for food for my children. I wasn’t thinking straight because I could have got stabbed or worse. Much to my surprise they gave it back and ran. It wasn’t really brave it was daft of me.

Wow, so many stories of courage on here.

It’s not always the ‘big’ things either - I work with some people for whom simply choosing to try and get through another day is a very brave choice.

Battled alongside my son as he fought schizophrenia and then the substance abuse. which was his way of trying to cope with it all. Sadly it was a battle he lost - my David forever 34, at peace and flying free x

Not half as brave as somethings Gransnetters have done but I have parasailed a few times, walked over the top of the 02 building, the glass floor walkway above the Tottenham Stadium, climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and best of all a tandem parachute from 13,000 ft. I quite like daring things ?

Saying 'yes' to turning my son's life support off. He was 26 and had cancer. I did it for him but it was the scariest moment I will ever have.

Pandapatch, I am so sorry for your loss. Your story brought tears to my eyes.

Buying a nartowboat to live on four years ago when I was 66...

Grandma70s

Ringing my in-laws in Australia to tell them their son had died.

My goodness that would certainly have needed bravery especially when you must have been suffering so badly.