Meet Hassanen Attabi

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hassanen Attabi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hassanen below.

Hassanen, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

I’ve always been fascinated with the weight that every day of life carries. I’d sit and wonder “What will my most important day be?”.

For awhile, past experiences came to mind: Immigrating to the United States, becoming a Marine, or receiving a cash-filled envelope from my first acting job (Which is still hung up on my cork board, with no intention of using it).

After some time, I started imagining possible future experiences: My wedding day, taking my kids to school for the first time, or booking that first big acting job. THE gig.

I spent years trying to find the definitive answer, but I never really believed there was one.

Until…

A sudden realization came over me that simply stated “Today is the most important day”. No more worrying about whether it’s happened already or whether it will come, it is already here! I pinched my cheeks, I’m alive! I stood up and awkwardly danced in the kitchen. I called my parents.

“Today is the most important day” quickly became my mantra ever since. Everything is a crap shoot and every day we have on this planet in the middle of space is an absolute blessing. It is the most important day simply because I woke up breathing, and it is my goal every day to make the most of it.

This sounds great in theory, but we all know that we don’t feel like every day is the most important day. There are some days where we need little to no human interaction and a good cry in the shower followed by a pint of ice cream. If you step back a couple feet from that, you will soon realize that we GET to do that. We GET to feel. We GET to hurt, to love, to help, to make mistakes. That is the ultimate beauty of the imperfect that we live in.

Ultimately, we stand on the shoulders of others every single day, and that gives me the optimism to know that I can keep going the next day. I can try harder, I can do better, and I will improve. Personally, I stand on the shoulders of thousands that have guided me and helped me navigate my way through life. Those people were family, friends, strangers, and those who meant ill will towards me. They have all played a part in the making of the current version of myself that I am living in. That’s what keeps me waking up every day, ready for the unknown adventure ahead.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I have recently invested all of my assets, resources, and time into pursuing an acting career. I can already see the hurdles and obstacles that will come my way as I navigate this business, but with the right amount of optimism, community, and insane belief, it will work. I just know it.

At the end of the day, I am an artist that discovers new techniques of expression every day. I have recently started sharing my original poetry, which is one of my favorite ways to make sense of the world around me. If poetry is your cup of tea, head to @oheasypie on Instagram and read away!

All forms of art are exciting to me and they add color to the tapestry of our lives. If a mural, a song, a film, or anything outside and in between has moved you in any way, then this is your time to be thankful for the art that graces our lives every single day.

Ultimately, I would love to connect with you, the reader, to collaborate artistically and support one another. Remember, Today is the Most Important Day!

You can find me on Instagram @hassanenattabi. See you there!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Awareness
When I talk about awareness, I am talking about the no-filtered reflections that you have towards yourself. Be honest with yourself and try to understand WHY you are feeling a certain way. When you start practicing being aware of the world around you and how it dictates your emotions and feelings, you have a much higher chance of getting out of a tunnel vision that can be crippling. With this new sense of awareness you will gain, try and remember to be gentle with yourself. Whether you have huge success or make a grave mistake, understand that the best thing you can do is assess the situation and try to do better the next day.

2. Action
In the grand scheme of things, we are tiny specks of dust that come in and out of existence in the snap of a finger. So instead of spending so much time thinking, just DO! If you are thinking of writing, just WRITE. If you are thinking of getting that loved one flowers, just GET THEM FLOWERS. If you are thinking of changing the trajectory of your life because your gut is taking you somewhere else, GO THERE. I would rather spend my time BEING a good friend rather than THINKING about being a good friend, etc.

3. Forgiveness
For your sanity and for mine, we must continuously be challenged to forgive. Remember, we’re all here for each other and we will never be perfect, so find the grace within you to forgive those in your world. Maintain your peace and keep looking forward. You truly never know what’s ahead.

Is there a particular challenge you’re facing?

I am currently in a transitional phase of my life, which is inherently challenging. Recently wrapping up five years in the Marine Corps and moving on to a career in the entertainment industry comes with growing pains, but I welcome them as they come. I just know that if I keep looking at the silver linings and keep showing up, I’ll be just fine.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hassanenattabi.com
• Instagram: @hassanenattabi
• Linkedin: Hassanen Attabi

Image Credits

Laiqa Hitt
Alexis Moradian
Pamela Leyva
Courtney Rybicki
Alyssa Chuluda
Juan Carpanzano
Jeff Schaer-Moses