SO YOU'RE A BIG BRAVE GHOSTHUNTER? SO WHAT, I ONCE WORE LYCRA IN PUBLIC!!

So, here I am sat in a graveyard, writing my latest blog post, it's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark. Under the moonlight, I've just seen a sight that almost stopped my heart. I try to scream but terror has taken back the sound before I make it and then I freeze as horror looked me right between the eyes. Am I brave, am I stupid or am I just using the words to a Michael Jackson song to introduce this? Well some might say none, one, two or all of the above, but according to a recent survey, there are far more braver things to do than walk around old buildings and alleged haunted locations talking to things that might not exist and using equipment that might not work whilst you're taking to things that might not exist...

A GHOST TIPTOEING ON FLOORBOARDS?

Yes, it's true, probably a surprise to the ghost hunting fraternity that spending your evening having your head touched, your ears blown into or saying "well done, thanks so much" to a creaking floorboard is not high up on the list of brave things to do, in fact it's not there at all. 

Making the first move on a date, going on a solo holiday – and asking people to move down on a train are among the modern signs of bravery, a study has found. A poll of 2,000 adults found the definition of bravery is changing with more than half now considering small and everyday things to be courageous victories.Other signs of everyday bravery include speaking up about the actions of someone else such as a boss or colleague, not putting a filter on a selfie, adding a friend on social media soon after meeting and letting people go through the pictures in your phone.

It also emerged just 62 per cent consider themselves to be brave, wonder how many ghost hunters were asked?

"YOU MEAN MY PHONE HAS AN OFF BUTTON?"

Karen Crowley for Highland Spring, which commissioned the research to launch its ‘Brave by Nature’ campaign, said: “The definition of bravery is changing. Lives are busier than ever and we are bombarded with new demands for our attention from the moment we wake up, until we switch off at night. For some, signing up to a dating app is a big step to take, while being the one to add a new acquaintance as a friend on Facebook can leave many feeling like they are taking a leap of faith. For others simply switching off their phone is an act of bravery. These are all things previous generations would never have had to worry about but are every day occurrences for today’s generation. But in an increasingly busy world, something as simple as getting everything done on a to-do list, or still cycling to work even though it’s raining, can be seen as acts of bravery and leave them feeling like they have let nothing stand in the way of their day. We want to celebrate those who are ‘everyday brave’ and who, despite maybe having to step out of their comfort zone to do so, refuse to let things get in the way of achieving greatness.”

BRAVE OR "WILLIAM-NO-FRIENDS"?

Speaking up about a boss or colleague is the biggest sign you are brave in the modern sense, followed by giving a presentation at work, going on holiday on your own and sticking up for someone. Standing up for yourself and your values is at five, while making the first move on a date, changing careers, trying something new, asking for help and quitting your job complete the top ten. Doing things on your own are also a key indicator that you are ‘everyday brave’ with eating alone in a restaurant, having a drink in the pub on your own and a solo trip to the cinema all on the list.

A TROLL TROLLING 

But social media and technology have led to a lot of the new signs of bravery with the top 50 including confronting a troll online and starting the conversation after matching on a dating site. Other modern signs of everyday brave include going to a new exercise class on your own and leaving the house without make-up on.Researchers found that 64 per cent of people consider themselves to be ‘everyday brave’ – doing a modern act of bravery three times a week.

But 54 per cent of people feel they could make more effort to be brave in everyday life, with almost four in ten feeling jealous of people who don’t seem to let anything stand in their way. More than half say they are proud of what they do, with three in ten believing they achieve greatness every day.

ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO THE QUIZ?

Karen Crowley of Highland Spring added: “The research proves that we are all naturally driven to do more every day – we are brave by nature. This campaign is about having the thirst to make the most of it and turn every day into a good day and Highland Spring helps you get there - that’s what we’re celebrating.Highland Spring has long been educating consumers on the importance of healthy hydration and the new campaign demonstrates that we are all naturally driven to give it our all.”

Take the quiz to find out how everyday brave you are CLICK HERE (if you're brave enough)

So, a message to us ghost hunters, and I include myself in that bracket, we maybe brave sitting in a shed on a lone vigil or daring a pipe to bang but there are braver things, at least 50, apparently... HOW MANY HAVE YOU DONE?

TOP 50 SIGNS YOU ARE A MODERN BRAVE

1. Speaking up about your boss, a colleague's or the school rep's actions

2. Giving a presentation at work

3. Going on holiday on your own

4. Sticking up for someone

5. Standing up for yourself and your values

6. Making the first move on a date

7. Changing careers or retraining

8. Trying something you've never done before i.e. a Zumba class/HIT

9. Asking for help

10. Quitting your job

11. Owning up to a mistake

12. Going out for a meal on your own

13. Going into a pub on your own

14. Disagreeing with your boss or colleague in a meeting

15. Dating after a divorce or bad break-up

16. Asking for a pay rise

17. Voicing your opinion about something you're passionate about

18. Going to the cinema on your own

19. Saying 'no' more

20. Saying I'm sorry

21. Breaking up with someone

22. Going travelling

23. Attending a job interview

24. Admitting to your mates that you just don't want to go to something you're invited to instead of making up an excuse/bailing at the last minute

25. Not holding in your emotions and letting loose

26. Asking someone out on a date

27. Confronting a troll online

28. Being outspoken about politics

29. Sending a risky email to the whole company

30. Asking people to move down on the train

31. Going to a new exercise class on your own

32. Saying 'yes' more

33. Asking for feedback

34. Talking face to face rather than through technology

35. Letting your child go out on their own for the first time

36. Letting people go through the photos in your phone

37. Getting a makeover or changing your look

38. Flashing your lights at another car which has just pulled out on you

39. Adding someone (as a friend) on social media after you've met

40. Starting a new hobby from scratch

41. Becoming more than friends

42. Going out without make-up

43. Starting the conversation first once you've got a match on a dating app

44. Volunteering to help out with school events/trips

45. Leaving your car with no parking ticket to do something quickly

46. Wearing Lycra in public

47. Swiping right on a dating app

48. Not putting a filter on a selfie

49. Crossing the road when the red man is showing

50. Taking a sick day for a reason other than sickness

#dontbenormal BE PARANORMAL (and brave)

written by Paul, Haunted Magazine, a modern day brave...  

"You don’t let anything get in the way of achieving your goals. You have the thirst to make the most of any situation and can deal with whatever life throws at you, including ectoplasm"

Thanks to Highland Spring for the inspiration... oh and Michael Jackson...