Bravery?

This question has, perhaps for the first time in the daily prompt, left me at a loss for an answer. First of all, bravery is such an abstract concept and second, why the qualifier of saying ‘when no one was watching’? I have heard of the idea of showing goodness when no one was watching but not bravery.

I don’t consider myself brave and I don’t suppose others would. I do things I don’t like and I do things that scare me, but they are simply because I have no choice. Even if you consider that bravery, which I don’t, I couldn’t think of any time when I have done one of those things with absolutely no one else watching. I have made leaps into the unknown but they have been with others or seen by others. This world is so interconnected that I would think it is impossible to be unobserved.

Some people might consider that putting one foot in front of the other is brave. Others may consider that a physical act that is completely selfless but endangered you in some way is brave. What about speaking up when no one else will? Is that bravery? I look back at myself and my actions and I can see signs of what some might call bravery, but all of those signs have been observed by someone. To be honest, though, I don’t see myself as brave at all. More often I am fearful and risk averse. If you are looking for something inspiring look elsewhere!