We recently connected with Michelle Kasim and have shared our conversation below.
Michelle, appreciate you joining us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?
At a certain point in my life, I found myself divorced and raising my son Sean, while also grappling with a financial low point. It was meant to be a fresh start for me, but I encountered difficulty in finding an apartment due to my less-than-ideal credit rating. However, I came across a charming garden apartment in the same town where we currently reside. I submitted my application, all the while recognizing that I was recently adopting the mindset trust in a higher power and let go of the results. I decided to place my trust in the process. A few days later, I received a phone call from someone who began the conversation by saying, “This is your lucky day.” As we spoke, I discovered that we had previously acquainted with each other, having had pleasant but brief conversations in our office environment. It turned out that she now worked at the agency handling my application and had advocated on my behalf, convincing her boss to approve it despite my less-than-stellar credit. The only condition was that I had to make an additional deposit, which would be returned to me after six months of consistently timely payments. I was overwhelmed with joy and realized that by trusting the process, my higher power had taken care of me not only on that day but every day since.
Michelle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
As a child I always had creative spirt. Every year at the holidays. I would design costumes and dress up my younger siblings using only household items. Together we embarked on imaginative adventures, we always singing and putting on performances. My story telling ability had been sprouted.
In grammar school, I achieved a notable accomplishment in writing by securing second place out of 2000 kids in the Police Athletic League poetry and art contest. This experience heightened my love for writing, which continued to blossom throughout my teenage years as I discovered its power to express my emotions. As I entered adulthood, I delved into crafting both short stories and poetry. Interestingly enough, my published book, “The Little Snowflake,” released in January 2020, originally began as a poem dedicated to my son Sean.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
My life is a legacy of resilience. To me I have from an early age had to overcome challenging situations. I watched my mom handle many a situation and all of her actions whether right or wrong taught me something. I think resilience is making lemonade out of life handing you lemons. It just as important to teach our children the right ways to handle things and show them when we make mistakes so they can avoid that in the future.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I was raised to think that asking for help demonstrated weakness. That caused me to struggle unnecessarily at times throughout my life. It wasn’t until I broke my ankle, that this humbling experience forced me to confront my stubbornness and let go of the notion that I couldn’t ask for help. At first, I thought I would manage until at the first orthopedic appointment, I was told I would be fitted with a full leg non-weight bearing cast. After the medicine wore off and the pain intensified and simple tasks became nearly impossible, I had to face the harsh reality that I couldn’t do it alone. Reluctantly, I had to accept help being offered by family and friends. Their support was overwhelming, as they immediately offered to lend a helping hand. They drove me to doctors’ appointments, brought me groceries, and even spent time keeping me company during my recovery. Their generosity and willingness to assist left me feeling grateful and loved. Breaking my ankle was a reminder that we all have limitations and need assistance from time to time. It taught me to put my ego aside and accept help graciously when it is offered. The experience allowed me to develop a deeper appreciation for the people around me and reinforced the importance of community and connection.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: author_readabook
- Facebook: Michelle Kasim
- Other: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-little-snowflake-michelle-kasim/1136292888?ean=9781728342979
Image Credits
Portrait Photo by Elizaveta Dirat