What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done when no one was watching?
Most of the things I’ve done that are brave have had an audience…skydiving–my family and some of my students were waiting for me on the ground with their necks craned to the sky to watch me coming down. Getting tattoos–there’s always people in the tattoo shops walking by and many times, they stop by the artist’s booth and watch them work. Quitting my principal job–Josh was my primary witness.
However, the bravest thing I’ve done with nobody watching is only brave because nobody was there. Because if someone had been there, Josh in particular, I would never have done it. And by that, I mean, when I’m home alone and I encounter a spider, I have to kill it myself.
Spiders terrify me. I think I have legit arachnophobia. Actually, probably not. Google says arachnophobia is a fear of spiders and other arachnids like scorpions and ticks. I’m not afraid of those. Anyway, when I’m home alone, I have to be brave to kill the spider because I can’t let it just wander around and explore the house until Josh gets home. Although one time I did do that. I tried to kill a spider that was descending from the curtain rod in the living room. I used a broom and missed. Then I couldn’t find the spider. So, I left the apartment and went to hang out with my mother-in-law at her house until Josh got home from work. Then I went home and although I never found the spider, having Josh, my designated spider killer, at the ready, made me less afraid.
I don’t want to be this kind of brave, but if I’m home by myself, I have to be. And that sucks for my nervous system.
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