Carnival of Courage (Issue #2): What Is the Bravest Thing You Have Ever Done?

Welcome to the Issue #2 of the Carnival of Courage: A Cavalcade of Superheroes!

It's been an interesting process hosting a carnival and I'm learning a great deal.  For those of you new this process, let me give you a quick behind the scenes view before we get into this issue in the form of a little public service announcement. The more you know, and the more we understand each other, the better it will be for all of us.

First, carnivals are a great way to get your stuff out to a larger audience, it is true. Second, an impressive number of people seem to be hoping to unleash their inner Steve Pavlina and make a living blogging.  If this is your desire, please make sure you write well and with an eye on providing real value to your readers. Yes, Steve Pavlina makes a fine living, but if all you care about is the income potential you see, please know that shameless self promotion because you have been bitten by the self-employment bug will not be supported in this carnival.  I have the utmost respect for my readers and ask that you do the same.  Stretch, grow, write thought provoking posts that make us think and I'll be happy to include you. 

Now, on with the Carnival!

What is the bravest thing you have ever done? 

Nothing like raising the bar insanely high for a new carnival! 

Some of you felt up for the challenge and went head on into it. Some of you didn't feel fully up to it but dove in because you love me and always do whatever I ask.  LOL.  Some of you hit it a bit sideways, offering up stories of those who have inspired you, one offered a therapeutically crafted story to help someone else be brave. Everyone here added something cool to the mix this week and I thank you all for the inspiration on my birthday. 

I will admit, I had to laugh at myself this week. I've become so good at bleeding in public that I forgot how hard it is and how risky it feels to do hit "publish". I'm a stranger to many of you sending me your stuff and I just cut to the chase and asked for the biggest scariest stuff! I do have to apologize for being so challenging.  I'm harmless, really.  I just have a penchant for diving into deep water and assume you all love to swim.

Which leads me to our first post...

There is nothing to fear but fear itself, says John Hill. I don't know who displayed more courage in this post, Lisa who took on the challenge of overcoming fear of the water or John who stood by and let her do it in How Facing An Old Fear Changed Her Life posted at Universe Of Success.

Anna Farmery, no stranger to courage, drew upon her inner strength to overcome is disabling condition rediscovers and then reconnected with her inner strength after the loss of her husband in Widows Quest » Losing your protection, your soul mate, both posted at Widows Quest.

A healer and her angels Ramblin' Rose (Kristie) presents Brave...Who Me? posted at Ramblin Rose. And thank you for the beautiful words and birthday well wishes.  You never fail to make me smile. 

Erin, who has gone where very few of us would dare to go with her career life and living as an ex-pat wrestles with the question in a way many writers will surely relate to at a wandering woman writes from Spain.

A non-blogging reader submitted this account of coping with panic attacks:

When I thought about my most courageous moments in life I have to admit that I was stuck. You see while I am easily able to see remarkable feats of courage around me almost every day. I find it difficult to acknowledge that same quality in my own life. So I did an honest appraisal and was surprised to find that I have had many opportunities in my life to be courageous and one in particular comes to mind.

For many years I have suffered from Panic Attacks. This is a frightening thing to have happen. The heart races, sweat pours out and for me a gag reflex would make it almost impossible to breath. It would happen when ever I had to do public speaking whether it was to a group of 20 or 300. Always it would be accompanied by a desire to run to leave to get away from the situation. It is only through shear will power that I would be able to give the speech. Every time I was sure I would die. After the first time the next time and every time after was terrible. The only thing that was worse than the attacks was all the build up before the next speaking engagement. I usually have one or two engagements a month. It is and was not a pleasant way to walk through life. With out exception I would find deep down inside the ability to go and make the speech. The remarkable thing to me was that in all cases no one else could tell. You might think at this point that the courage was in doing the speeches. It was courageous yes but the real courage was in telling people that I had this to deal with. I never shied away from being honest about it. When I finally was able to find the courage to get the help I needed it was remarkable how easy it was resolve. With proper medication and talk therapy I have been able to overcome the fear and face my life without the fear.

On the other side of the therapy couch, isabella mori talks about what it is like to sit in the therapist chair in the process of therapy: vulnerability in the here and now posted at change therapy.

Inspiring Bravery in Others

While not a story of her own bravest act, Linda Freedman continues the thread with Bullies, Guns and a T. D. Bedtime Story  posted at Everyone needs therapy? Lessons from a family therapist. This is a story she made up to help a real kid through peer rejection and verbal abuse. He used it to fight back, regain his self-esteem, and demand respect. The moral of the story is that taking it on the chin is not the best way to go. Be your own hero.

More Personal Heroes

And finally, Conan Stevens presents one of his own sources of inspiration. He states, "Unable to walk, talk and barely able move Stephen Hawking is a great inspiration to any who look at his professional accomplishments and his outlook on life." Conan presents Think Your Life Is Bad? Email From Bradley And Inspiration From Stephen Hawking posted at Conan Stevens Worlds Biggest Action Hero?.

Thanks again to all who submitted! 

Ready to keep going?

Next carnival is due out on 12/23/06.  Let's make it a courage free for all!  Tell us about your victories big or small, your inspirations and heros, tales from the trenches as you wrestle with those things that are stretching and challenging you.

SUBMIT TO THIS CARNIVAL by December 21st.

Because I am so awesome: I know several of my readers do not have blogs but do have stories to share.  If you feel inspired to share, please e-mail me your spell-checked and well-written submission for me to consider posting on your behalf.  I want to give everyone a chance to participate but I'm a one-woman show here so pieces that require heavy editing will be returned to you for fixing.

SUBMIT TO THIS CARNIVAL

Comments

[TherapyDoc]

What a great carnival and such a nice blog. Thanks so much for including me,

Linda

[Eric Juárez]

I have been away for so long but I'm back again. I wanted to see how are things going with your festival and it's nice to see all thing are going all right. I also wanted to wish you happy birthday, and Xmas and New Year... you can never tell the people how much you love them, but I'm trying my best in telling you: Happy birthday!!
I would have loved to be part of your carnival, but I've been a little busy. Anyhow, it's a great way to know the thinking and feeling of people around the world.
Love
E.J.

[Laura Young]

My pleasure, Linda. And Eric!!!! Oh darlin' I have a package ready to mail to you and got your postcard and now here you are and it's so good to see you. I'm going to the post office TODAY to send you a gift. You know, the carnival happens every 10 days so you can send something any time you want. I hope you do!
(And that goes for the rest of you, too!)
Love,
L