Is my brave yours?

Last night I was described as brave.

By a young woman who has just completed a 10 day OTC mountain trek in Kathmandu.

Climbing to 6000 metres.

Dealing with the physical and mental strain of climbing (& breathing!) at altitude.

Zoe and 2 others were the only ones out of 12 young men and women - all in their early 20’s - who reached their final climb destination. The others were either too sick from the altitude or physically unable to carry on.

Guided by amazing Sherpas, all they had to help them were crampons, pick axes and those climbing shoes with super-sharp spikes.

Climbing 90* sheer ice walls in the final stages.

Reaching the summit through mental grit, physical strength and lucky lungs.

Now I think that’s brave.

But this young woman who has just done something I could never contemplate thought I was brave for moving to Bristol in my early 20’s!!

A new city for me, where I knew no one. The first time I’d been was for the interview.

2 interviews later, I was offered the job.

Said bye to family, friends, boyfriend.

And moved into a flat with a girl who hardly spoke to me (she needed rent money not chat!!).

Got the keys to a clapped out convertible VW Beetle as my company car and took a deep breath.

The job was Account Exec. with McCann Erickson. The biggest advertising agency in the world (at the time).

A role that signified a very exciting start.

I’d had 18 months in a tiny Hampshire ad agency, working my way up from tea-making and typing copy to negotiating media space and scheduling, buying print/production, meeting clients and writing a tiny column in yachts & yachting magazine.

McCann’s Bristol was a huge step and it meant the world.

So much so, I was up for pushing out of my comfort zone.

I set up new home. Slowly made new friends. Got used to living in a big city. Navigating my way around with paper maps.

And, at work I smiled, listened, watched and learned.

(5 years later doing it again in Lymington)

At McCanns I worked on their biggest accounts. Eventually moving from advertising to their DM division, running marketing campaigns for some of the UK’s biggest banks and insurers.

It wasn’t all plain sailing. Nothing is.

The point is, everyone’s brave is different.

Everyone’s comfort boundaries set differently. By nature & nurture.

It doesn’t mean any one of us is any less brave than another.

Those feelings of discomfort and fear are real.

Whether you’re on the side of a mountain holding on with a pick axe ⛏️ or standing on the pavement facing the front door of a new job.

Whatever your brave is, take a big deep breath, you’ve got this.

Discomfort is good. It’s where we learn most.

Trust your gut, listen to your instincts and take a leap. It might feel god awful but it might just be worth it.

What’s your brave?