Until we ran the Becoming Fearless post about "fearless charms" on May 18, we had NO IDEA that the practice of wearing or carrying around meaningful small (or even kind of large) courage-boosting objects was so prevalent amongst HuffPost readers.

Many readers wrote about -- and sent us photos of -- the little things that have helped them get through stressful times. Some fearless charms have literally accompanied their owners into battle. Others represent the support of loving family members that are here... or those who are sorely missed. Still others symbolize a cause that's close to the owner's heart. Check out the slideshow!

What's your fearless charm? Comment below, or tweet us all about it @HealthyLiving using the hashtags #becomingfearless and #fearlesscharm. If you tweet, you will automatically be entered into Toyota Corolla's Most Fearless Tweet Contest! (Click here for the Official Rules.)

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  • <strong>"My charm is a bracelet I made during my sorority's pledge period. We made the bracelets out of cheap plastic beads in our colors as a bonding activity and I never expected I'd keep it, but I always either wear it or keep it in my wallet (not going to lie, it looks like something a third grader would wear -- not appropriate for every occasion!). It reminds me of all the [Delta Gamma] girls who will always care about me and all the fun we shared together in college -- it's impossible to feel lonely or scared when your accessory is a literal reminder of all your friends!" --<a href="http://" target="_hplink">Molly Fedick</a></strong>

  • <strong>"I carry flat pennies in my coin purse from places my family has traveled to. So when I pull out my coins to make change, I usually have one in my hand and it makes me smile and remember the fun we had!" --Krista Roberson </strong>

  • <strong>"My dog tag is my charm. Has been on my person in good and bad since boot camp 26 years ago." --@bollum03</strong>

  • <strong>"My three fearless charms. 1 for each kid & 1 for me. My three charms represent my son's creativity (a small good-luck charm he made me using the mockingjay from 'The Hunger Games'), my daughter's energy (a small blue cup she gave me to play with 'if you get bored at work, Mommy'), and my own health goals (a small stone to help me focus). I suppose [my son's] hopeful that I'd do well in the arena. ;) --@peppersncarrots</strong>

  • <strong>"I love these bracelets! I wear them every day. The starfish one was made by a marginalized deaf woman in Honduras out of their hill silver. Purchased from <a href="http://linksofhope.org/Links_of_Hope_Network/About_Us.html" target="_hplink">www.LinksOfHope.org</a>, and it reminds me that women are meant to be equal globally and keeps me fearlessly fighting for that right. The quote is from Gandhi and it reminds me to be fearless because even one person can change the world when we become the change we wish to see in it." --@StylishStarfish </strong>

  • <strong>"I have a tiny medallion of St. Michael on my key chain that my father took with him to Vietnam in 1966-1967 and carried with him throughout his life. He passed away last year from a heart attack and it's something to remember him by and hey, he lasted 11 months in Vietnam, must be good luck." --<a href="http://JMilton1976" target="_hplink">JMilton1976</a></strong>

  • <strong>"Both of my parents are dead. My husband gave me a 'guardian angel' charm after my dad died. I wear it on a chain around my neck when I travel. After my mom died last year, I added a turquoise cross she never took off. So, I always feel like both my parents are looking out for me." --<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/MommaCat50?action=comments" target="_hplink">MommaCat50</a>

  • <strong>"I got into a bike accident a while back, and broke my wrist. Months later by a bike rack at school I noticed this tiny glint in the sand and I picked it up and it was a very small hand with an all-seeing eye in the palm. I knew for some reason it would help me. I never carried around anything before, but it was a charm probably from a bracelet or something, but I put it on my keys and my luck has changed. Normal things that would have usually ended in me crying, such as losing something or breaking something, don't happen nearly as often. I just hope whatever is helping me, keeps helping me." --<a href="http://GrownupStewie" target="_hplink">GrownupStewie</a></strong>

  • <strong>"I do wear, and have [worn] for thirty years, a picture of my beloved in a glass-fronted locket (currently I'm using the same picture of him in my avatar). It serves well as a pendulum at need, and gets quite a bit of the indrawn-breath-he's-so-handsome reaction from women I meet. :)" --<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/french_queen13?action=comments" target="_hplink">french queen13</a></strong>

  • <strong>"I have two -- one I wear all of the time, one that I cannot because of The Dementor (sometimes referred to as the dog) that lives in my home. The first is a charm bracelet full of Chinese symbols for hope, love, wealth and happiness. The other is a wishbone necklace. It has never left my neck not for a single second since my sister gave it to me. She is battling cancer and it gives me the strength to not fear the illness that is robbing so much of my baby sibling from me. When I miss her or worry about her, I touch the necklace and breathe." --<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Amie_Nogrady?action=comments" target="_hplink">Amie Nogrady</a></strong>

  • <strong>"When I was a girl, I wanted to be a marine biologist. I was obsessed with sharks, more specifically whale sharks. But my family was poor, and I knew I'd never go to college. Fast-forward 25 years, and I'm coming into my 3rd year of school, and I'm with an amazing husband who is making my dream come true. He got me a stuffed whale shark and a whale shark button I keep in my car to remind me all things are possible." --<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/April_Pells?action=comments" target="_hplink">April Pells</a></strong>

  • <strong>"Who do you see in my profile image? Yes, it's him. He gives me the courage to stand up to any sort of bool-schidt that I ever come across. Even if I have to speak up to a 6'4", 280-lb. guy." --<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Jessen_Joseph?action=comments" target="_hplink">Jessen Joseph</a></strong>

  • <strong>"I carry a small smoothed stone around -- helps with nerves and reminds me to be patient with the way life is going at any given moment." --<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/virescentgirl?action=comments" target="_hplink">virescentgirl</a></strong>

  • <strong>"My 'fearless charm' is my passport! If you want to become fearless, travel! See the world and all that it has to offer. There is nothing like packing a bag and heading out to see beautiful places, meet new and interesting people, and learning about other cultures. <a href="http://www.vitavoyager.blogspot.com/" target="_hplink">THAT'S FEARLESS</a>!" --<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Vita_Voyager?action=comments" target="_hplink">Vita Voyager</a></strong>

  • <strong>"When I need a boost of fearlessness, I draw a heart on my wrist. It helps. :-) It reminds me what is really important in life: my family and friends. I get stressed out about difficulties on the job (office games; rude customers), upset about religious politics or political religion, or worried about looking in the mirror every day and seeing a stranger, getting older and older. But drawing the heart where I can see it all day long helps me remember that I am loved deeply by many people, friends and family as varied and different as humanity can be. With thoughts of Mom, John, Kris and Vic, Dodo, Jimmy, Myq and T. (just to name a few), I lose my fear and forget the things that frighten me about everyday life. That little heart does big things!" --@eloquentwrage </strong>

  • <strong>"This miniature majestic creature is always by my side. Elephants are 1 of the most powerful animals, yet they are completely magnificent & beautiful -- reminds me I can be as well :)" --@jenniebfiechtl </strong>

  • <strong>"Mom gave me a small gold ankh my sr yr in hs from when she was a teen. It reminds me of my mom & everything she's managed to accomplish in her life. #BestMamacitaEver" --@EtaVirginis</strong>

To take a gander at HuffPost staffers' fearless charms, click here.