Stoppable!

Autobiographies by celebrities (which now include social media stars) are a curious thing. I don’t read them even if I like the author. I think part of me is very skeptical of that person’s version of events and likely are framed in a way that makes them look better than they really are.

No one is perfect and it’s okay to say things like “THIS happened and I was wrong with how I reacted to it”. It’s refreshing to see someone admit to screwing up.

The titles of said autobiographies are always along the lines of DEFIANT and ME and MY LIFE and the like. I get that titles like INVINCIBLE are meant to be encouraging and inspiring. I get that the person writing (or the person who was hired to ghostwrite) the book had to be resilient and determined to overcome life’s obstacles to get to where they are and please know I am not undermining their resolve or success. This is very naive but I like to think that people who have achieved what they set out to do did so ethically and deservedly. I like to think that their talent and intelligence were the keys that unlocked the doors to their victories.

I know, it’s naive, but that’s me.

I got to thinking about all of this when I saw the autobiography of someone I’ve never heard of (which is happening more frequently all the time). Me not knowing the author is less about that person being noteworthy but more about me being disconnected to much of what is happening in pop culture. This particular book was titled UNSTOPPABLE, continuing the tradition of inspiring titled memoirs.

Again, I don’t know the person but I THINK they are a chef? Or someone notable in the world of culinary and hospitality? Maybe they are a food vlogger? Or a social media influencer?

I do understand that UNSTOPPABLE is more marketable than a title like GIVES UP EASILY and I HOPE THIS WORKS OUT, NO WORRIES IF NOT.

At any rate, whenever I see a new book, especially an autobiography, I think about my own book which I really, REALLY need to focus on. My ADHD brain is always attracted to something NEW and other projects continue to be neglected. BUT I am prone to realizing my own hubris and arrogance in terms of thinking that no one would want to read such a book, let alone publish it.

I admire determination and I admire people who get shit done, no matter if it’s redoing a bathroom (as my wife is currently doing) or writing a book.

I could never, ever write something called UNSTOPPABLE. But I could write something called STOPPABLE, lol. Not because I have low self esteem (I doubt anyone reading my website would think that) but because I pursue so many things that just go absolutely nowhere. I tend to recognize or admit when something just isn’t working or won’t work.

Of course it’s fair to say I might give up too easily but let’s not talk about that.

I do a LOT of things but I really only share the successes. For every MN T-Girls event I write about, there are two ideas that I tried to make happen that didn’t. For every video project that focused on a person, there are three or more ideas that didn’t work out. For every photo shoot that features a product, there are a dozen companies that I reached out to that didn’t want to collaborate.

And that’s fine, right? That’s life, isn’t it?

A NO means NO, afterall.

I suppose I am too literal when I read things like UNSTOPPABLE or NEVER GIVING UP or DON’T TAKE NO. I am stopped all the time in both Hannah’s life and my male life.

But I don’t mind this as much as one might think. I do not want everyone telling me that every silly idea that pops into my head is a good one and I should DO IT. My friend Sophie thankfully has no problem telling me that my idea is stupid (but gently lol) or that it needs some work. I need people like her in my life.

Also, please know that I do not think of myself as a failure. I do think that the more you attempt to achieve in life, whether it is something grandiose or something more mundane, the more often you fail. That’s normal. But fear of failure, even if the failure is likely, is not a reason to stop trying again, or to stop trying to accomplish what you wish. I think failure is a sign of ambition and determination and likely a little bit of optimism, whether naive or not.

Love, Hannah