Good decision Bex!
You may be a cautious pilot, but you're certainly not a pratt. I would descibe your actions as showing excellent judgement and airmanship. To improve your flying you have to push yourself a litle further each time. BUT, the secret of sucess is to have a backup plan and use it, which you did to good efect. You've now increased your experience, which you can put to good use in similar circumstances in the future, and you didn't hurt yourself. You know your limitations and you've flown within them - this is a good survival tactic.
Stick two fingers up at anyone who criticise's your actions, or better still, send 'em to me and I'll do it for you!
A
PS: Have you considered puting in a CHIRP report on this one. There's a great flight safety and human factors mesage in there that deserves a bigger audience.