We connected with some of the most resilient folks in the community and one of the most insightful questions we had an opportunity to ask centered around whether there was ever a time they almost gave up. Highlighting some of the responses below.
Brittany Tottenham
Yes, after I had COVID right after giving birth to my daughter in 2020, I was very discouraged and scared. I fell into depression, was diagnosed with anxiety, and honestly felt like I was at the end of myself. What I thought was the closing of a chapter actually became the beginning of something much bigger. Read more>>
Aaliyah McGuire
In 2024, I felt like giving up—not because I was weak, but because I was carrying burdens from people I no longer wanted to hold. I struggled with loved ones being emotionally unavailable or expecting me to “stay strong” when that wasn’t enough. I even questioned life itself, thinking that perhaps God and the loved ones who had passed on would appreciate me more. Read more>>
Antoinette Cage
Yes, I’ve had moments where I wanted to give up—life, business, and relationships all tested me. What’s kept me going is keeping God first and having the right people in my corner. My mentor Matrice has been a true blessing—she pushes me, encourages me, and has become like a big sister. Read more>>
Harold JAY Trotter
Yesterday. Last week. Last month. Last year. The year before that. The thought of giving up crosses my mind more often than I’d like to admit. When things get hard, exhausting, broken — when life feels like it’s piling on — walking away or pivoting always seems like the easiest option. Read more>>
Olga Miliuta
The time I almost gave up my music career was during the COVID lockdown. Those were very difficult years for all teachers and performers because we had no opportunity to provide music education or hold concerts. I was working in a completely different job and came very close to quitting music altogether. Read more>>
Naseer Alam
Yes—there was a time early on when I almost gave up. I had poured everything into the business, but we hit a stretch where nothing seemed to go right—production delays, financial strain, and a lot of self-doubt. I remember sitting in the warehouse late one night, wondering if it was time to walk away. Read more>>
Kat Bailey
Absolutely — creating Porter’s H-Town ABCs was the most recent time I truly felt like giving up. I started this journey with zero knowledge about publishing, formatting, or any of the technical pieces — I was literally learning everything as I went. The biggest hurdle came when I tried to get my manuscript approved for publishing. After over a dozen rejections, I hit a wall. Read more>>
Jackie Parker
Owning a business, let alone multiple businesses, you constantly feel pressure and often want to give up. The difference is the desire to keep going and push through the hard times. It takes a lot of grit and mindset shifts to continue on, but its so worth it! Read more>>
Mont’sha Burrell
Plenty of times. There were moments when the weight of doubt, exhaustion, and uncertainty felt overwhelming. But something inside me kept holding on—a quiet, steady voice reminding me that this is my passion, my calling. I knew that if I gave up on this—the thing I truly love and believe in—I would never be able to create that same magic again. Read more>>
Holly Nowak
Absolutely, there have been moments when I’ve almost given up—almost every day, in fact. Life is a relentless teacher, reminding us that no one is spared from heartbreak, stress, tragedy, or difficult relationships. When these challenges arise, we’re often faced with two choices: succumb to despair or rise above it. Read more>>
Jah Mitchell
Yes, during my third round of IVF, I reached a point where I almost gave up. The emotional and physical toll was overwhelming. After each failed attempt, I felt like I was losing a piece of myself. I questioned everything my body, my strength, even my future. Read more>>
Katie Martin
Absolutely. Like so many actors, I hit a point where I felt like I was constantly chasing validation—waiting for callbacks, approvals, and someone else’s permission to feel like I belonged in the room. It’s easy to feel invisible in this industry if your self-worth is tied to audition results. Read more>>
