I just finished watching We Bought a Zoo (pretty good movie to be honest) and this is one of the phrases that stuck with me (and likely many other people). In the movie, he says "sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. Just literally 20 seconds of just embarassing bravery, and I promise you something great will come of it", and I was wondering if anybody has had these 20 seconds of courage in real life. Just some life changing experience that took serious balls to do.

If you have, share it. If you havent, do you think it has any merit? Hell, even if you kind of have, do you think it has any merit?

Personally, I am a wuss and haven't. However, upon hearing it I think that maybe I should try and apply it to my life.

Jackal__

Canada9 Posts

August 11 2012 05:09 GMT

getting on your knee and asking the question to the love of your life?

xrapture

United States1644 Posts

August 11 2012 05:15 GMT

Courage = committing an action with selfish motives-- same as every other action.

TommyP

United States6231 Posts

August 11 2012 05:16 GMT

Yeah. One time my friends and I were driving around town (the worst side of town) when we were a couple years younger. I had a squirt gun in the back of my car. My friend grabbed it and unloaded a whole clip of water into an african american male of probably 25 years of age in a completely ghetto car just chilling on the side of the road with his window down at 3 am in the morning. Im 99% sure he was a crack dealer because what else are you doing then and there? So he started his car and started following us and then eventually my dumbass friend said turn in here and of course it was a dead end. So we were trapped and he came driving down the dead end and tried to block us in but i pulled the greatest juke maneuver ive ever seen and we escaped without getting hit or shot. I am a wussy too, I dont ever do anything dangerous so this is why it surprised me that I didnt just park the car or stop thinking.

TommyP

United States6231 Posts

August 11 2012 05:20 GMT

On August 11 2012 14:15 xrapture wrote:
Courage = committing an action with selfish motives-- same as every other action.

What about sacrificing your own life so someone else can live? How is that selfish?

sam!zdat

United States5559 Posts

August 11 2012 05:20 GMT

On August 11 2012 14:15 xrapture wrote:
Courage = committing an action with selfish motives-- same as every other action.

you've been reading that ayn rand again haven't you

tsk

ieatkids5

United States4628 Posts

August 11 2012 05:23 GMT

was hanging out with a girl late at night at the university commons area. we were sitting on the couch together. both of us said we needed to "study." we had our books and notebooks on our respective laps, and she randomly asks me "are you gay" (rofl i have no idea why she would ask such a thing, don't ask) I decide, alright, she's shown the signs, all the signals are there, if i do it, what do i have to lose? a few minutes of embarassment? i lean in, wrap my left arm around her back, right arm around her head, and kiss her in the lips. she kisses back. after about 20 seconds, i said, "no, i'm not gay." and we've been going out ever since.

fuck embarrassment. fuck hesitation. just go do it. and if it doesn't work, what have you lost? a potential friendship? would that friendship have even gone well? what about all the other potential friends out there? or a few minutes of embarassment? who fucking cares? if it doesn't work out, you're never gonna see her again. it was good practice anyway.

Avidkeystamper

United States8556 Posts

August 11 2012 05:28 GMT

On August 11 2012 14:15 xrapture wrote:
Courage = committing an action with selfish motives-- same as every other action.

Even if that were true, courage and selfishness are not mutually exclusive. So really your comment is more 'oo look how counterculture i am' rather than contributing.

BlackPanther

United States872 Posts

August 11 2012 05:34 GMT

On August 11 2012 14:15 xrapture wrote:
Courage = committing an action with selfish motives-- same as every other action.

You're quite the cynic.

proberecall

United States104 Posts

August 11 2012 05:46 GMT

#10

On August 11 2012 14:09 Jackal__ wrote:
getting on your knee and asking the question to the love of your life?

wow, great thread and great answer...

this would be mine as well. I'm such a screw up when it comes to relationships and treating women and I come from a sociopath background (been to psychologists, psychiatrists), until she came along and really changed my world. Before those 20 seconds, I was really scared when I had her hands held in mine... I just didn't know what to say or how to say it and just thought to myself something like "screw it, here goes nothing..." and went for it... and if you ask me how did I do it, I just don't remember a thing other than the most beautiful kiss ever.

anything else in my life has been kinda straight forward, and I have been in some real messed up situations, but I guess I can deal with pressure or other circumstances with no problem.

Exogenesis93

Australia8 Posts

August 11 2012 05:52 GMT

#11

Slender...

User was temp banned for this post.

NeMeSiS3

Canada2972 Posts

August 11 2012 05:55 GMT

#12

My greatest inch of courage would be to save someone, either from being beaten/raped/attacked or simply just about to fall. I guess it's a hero complex, I want to do something to save someone.

StarStruck

25339 Posts

August 11 2012 05:57 GMT

#13

I'm always courageous. I don't back down to bow down to anyone. So I'm a little confuffled.

3FFA

United States3931 Posts

August 11 2012 06:05 GMT

#14

1) Saving Kids from being bullied by the meanest bully in school (death threats, insults, you name it he got it, except a weapon)
2) Saving my own hide from the same guy
3) Getting the kid expelled

4) Rinse, Repeat.
5) GF
6) Working on this one...

Ahh the life of a sophomore in HS

Chaoz

United States507 Posts

August 11 2012 06:06 GMT

#15

Every time I have to do some public speaking.

Juliette

United States6003 Posts

August 11 2012 06:08 GMT

#16

I liked that movie. Took too long to get to the point, but the animals were cute

On August 11 2012 14:23 ieatkids5 wrote:
was hanging out with a girl late at night at the university commons area. we were sitting on the couch together. both of us said we needed to "study." we had our books and notebooks on our respective laps, and she randomly asks me "are you gay" (rofl i have no idea why she would ask such a thing, don't ask) I decide, alright, she's shown the signs, all the signals are there, if i do it, what do i have to lose? a few minutes of embarassment? i lean in, wrap my left arm around her back, right arm around her head, and kiss her in the lips. she kisses back. after about 20 seconds, i said, "no, i'm not gay." and we've been going out ever since.

fuck embarrassment. fuck hesitation. just go do it. and if it doesn't work, what have you lost? a potential friendship? would that friendship have even gone well? what about all the other potential friends out there? or a few minutes of embarassment? who fucking cares? if it doesn't work out, you're never gonna see her again. it was good practice anyway.

^ This right here is the SHIT. Exactly what its all about, I commend you.

I've yet to do something brave.

TheRabidDeer

United States3806 Posts

August 11 2012 06:08 GMT

#17

On August 11 2012 14:15 xrapture wrote:
Courage = committing an action with selfish motives-- same as every other action.

Courage = overcoming something that is difficult for you. It could be something as small as facing a simple fear or admitting the truth in a mistake or asking the person of your dreams out on a date. Or one of the biggest things of your life, asking said girl to marry you.

And there is nothing wrong with selfish actions. If you live life to be selfless, that in itself could be considered selfish. You are just as important as anybody else in this world.

G3CKO

Canada1430 Posts

August 11 2012 06:08 GMT

#18

Squeezing my glutes, tensing my hamstring, and pushing my quads to finish up the last 2 reps for squats

Wafflelisk

Canada1061 Posts

August 11 2012 06:08 GMT

#19

Every time I hit that find game button (.. only semi-joking

)

Bippzy

United States1466 Posts

August 11 2012 06:11 GMT

#20

Wolf did gangnam style dance in front of people in RL yesterday and he did it alone and people clapped for him.

I....am not old enough to have had my 20 seconds.