Kassel is the author of This Journey Is My Own. A first-generation Haitian-American female, she lives in the suburban Philadelphia area with her husband, son, and daughter.
Kassel began This Journey Is My Own in June 2009 to blog about all issues mostly unrelated to mental health: personal, political, musical, and theological (to name a few). She enjoys having regular readers, but ultimately, her blog is an attempt “to live and breathe for an audience of One.”
As a full-time working mom and Chief Home Operations Manager, Kassel blogs when she can. She is currently working on her first novel. She is also the author of Depression Introspection, a mental health blog ranked by PsychCentral in 2007 as one of the Top Ten Depression Blogs.
This Journey Is My Own 
Just found your blog “Depression Introspection” – wow! It is awesome. I am struggling with depression – really badly – right now and looking for some sources of inspiration. Thank you for providing that. I haven’t had a chance to read what you are up to right now but it seems to me that you should use your talents in writing.
I can relate to your need to discontinue the blog due to the pressure of “keeping it up.” I think I am suffering from the same thing right now but the “keeping up” isn’t on a blog – it’s “keeping up” with the Jones’ next door.
Thank you for your blog. Good luck in your continued endeavors. May the Lord bless you and keep you and make the sun shine upon you.
Hi Kass,
How are you? Hope you are doing well.
I hope you don’t mind me posting a comment here. I tried and failed to find another way to reach you. Feel free to remove this comment after you’ve read it, =)
I’m contacting you on behalf of the team behind The Reasons to go on Living Project, based at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (ON, Canada). We are collecting the stories of people who have attempted or seriously contemplated suicide but now want to go on living. The project will study and share these anonymous stories for research, education and inspiration.
The project homepage is: http://thereasons.ca. You can go there for more information, and to read select stories submitted by others. The stories are completely anonymous, and submissions are done online through the website.
I was wondering if you would be interested in helping out with the project by promoting the website. You can do this via a short entry on your blog or a quick twitter update. Just direct them to the project homepage, and the website will do the rest.
Thanks so much for you time!
Thanks for contacting me, Tina. I’ll post about it on Twitter. 🙂
After reading some of your blog articles at Depression Introspection, we were particularly impressed by the quality of the information you’ve produced and your style of writing. We believe that your thoughts and advice in the area of Depression will be an invaluable resource to thousands of our Reclaim Happiness Blog readers, and seek to create an opportunity where you can expand your reader base and make an even larger positive impact through your writings. If you are interested in this idea, please send me an e-mail and we can discuss things further. Thanks.
I just wanted to reach out to you (I hope you don’t mind, feel free to delete this if you wish, and apologies for putting it on your notes page but I couldn’t find a way to send you a private message) to let you know how much I appreciate your blog. I am also a follower of Christ. I have also had a history of depression. (I think it’s different for everyone; for me it’s usually a sign that I’m spiritually drifting, and refocusing on Him usually helps – but that’s just how it works for me.) I don’t know what you’re dealing with or what your triggers are, but I wondered in passing today if maybe your Enjoying God series (which has so touched me & I’m sure others) has brought you under attack; our Enemy trying to steal your joy and take you off track. I don’t know if that’s true, of course. I don’t really know anything; suddenly I’m one of Job’s well-meaning but unhelpful friends, trying to explain what I don’t understand. I do know that I’m glad I’ve found your blog, glad to start to get to know (even at a distance) a fellow sister-in-Christ. You are a blessing; I pray you will be blessed.
Hello, gringita (is it PC to call you that? lol)~
The idea that I (and my husband) might be under spiritual attack because of the Enjoying God series crossed my mind. It was also the annual women’s day of prayer in my local denomination, and I was spiritually attacked this time last year too. Perhaps it is no coincidence.
I appreciate your support and encouragement as I journey to, from, and back again to God. It is great to meet other Christians who can encourage each other in the faith.
(I don’t think we’re too far from each other; I’ve gotten lots of snow too! LOL.)
I just wanted to reach out to you (I hope you don’t mind, feel free to delete this if you wish, and apologies for putting it on your notes page but I couldn’t find a way to send you a private message) to let you know how much I appreciate your blog. I am also a follower of Christ. I have also had a history of depression. (I think it’s different for everyone; for me it’s usually a sign that I’m spiritually drifting, and refocusing on Him usually helps – but that’s just how it works for me.) I don’t know what you’re dealing with or what your triggers are, but I wondered in passing today if maybe your Enjoying God series (which has so touched me & I’m sure others) has brought you under attack; our Enemy trying to steal your joy and take you off track. I don’t know if that’s true, of course. I don’t really know anything; suddenly I’m one of Job’s well-meaning but unhelpful friends, trying to explain what I don’t understand. I do know that I’m glad I’ve found your blog, glad to start to get to know (even at a distance) a fellow sister-in-Christ. You are a blessing; I pray you will be blessed.
+1
Kassi,
Yes, this is the second post I’ve made in the last hour, but I’m not trying to cyber stalk you. 🙂 I stumbled across your blogs and I couldn’t stop reading. I just finished reading “Love Wins” by Rob Bell, and I so appreciated your summary. I tried to put into words exactly what you said, but I just couldn’t do it. I live near Mars Hill (Rob Bells Church) and we attended there about 10 years ago when they first got started. All I have to say is things have changed. I just feel a kindred connection to you – from the books you read (Sophie Kinsella – one of my fav’s) to your honesty and communication about God. I signed up for emails and look forward to reading more.
p.s. Just discovered Goodreads.com – ahh bliss!
I have really enjoyed reading “THIS JOURNEY IS MY OWN” and I can realte to it too. I really appreciate the honesty of your emotions about life. I am your new fan!
I would love to feature you but I can’t find your email address anywhere. Can you drop me a line, kimberly@kimberlyluxe.con
Hi, Kass. I found your blog from your twitter feed and would love to chat. Working on a documentary series about social media and people who struggle with mental illness. If you are at all interested in chatting, please email us at redflagcasting@gmail.com. Thank you for sharing so much of your story here!
Hello Kass, Thank you for sharing your story and journey. I used to live in Philly, I wish I could come and have a cheesesteak with you, girlfriend! Keep on sharing, keep on healing, and I hope to cross paths with you someday.
You Are One Of The Unique Ones!
Hello Kassel how are things? God is an awesome God. He reigns forever more. I am so happy to read that you are okay. Reach out to me sometimes
Hi Melisia: I just found this comment. I’m glad you reached out to me last year. On January 6 before people tried to overthrow our government. Anyway, I hope you are well.
Kassel, thanks for this wonderful post. I have a facebook group devoted to “undercover Haitians.” I shared your link there for others to read. I encourage to check it out and peruse through the threads. I think you’ll find a lot in common with other Haitians, who in their youth, had similar feelings about not wanting to be Haitian, especially me. Here’s the link to the group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/581176952309094/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
Best, Yven