Special Guest: Michelle Korn

Doing Hard Things (and Strawberry Basil Iced Tea!)

Photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash

Hey Readers!

This week, I’m so excited to welcome special guest, Michelle Korn to A Busy Lady Substack!

I love connecting with other writers and hearing other people’s stories. Stories are how we connect to the world. It’s how we share lessons, dreams, and hope. Stories remind us we’re not alone.

When Michelle told me she wanted to write about her adventure moving from NYC at the height of Covid to a small Connecticut town, I was hooked. We’ve all been in those situations—when we set out on a new adventure, not sure where it will take us. It reminds me of one of my favorite Lord of the Rings quotes, when Sam says to Frodo:

“This is it, if I take one more step, I’ll be the farthest away from home I’ve ever been.”

Change is scary. It’s stepping out into unknown territory. You wonder, what if I fail? What if it’s a mistake? Can I do this? Change is hard, but we can do hard things, as Michelle teaches us today.

What else? Michelle shares with us her fabulous recipe for homemade Strawberry Basil Iced Tea! Be sure to check it out, as well as Michelle’s gorgeous website at

http://affectionatelymichelle.com

And now, without further ado, please welcome Michelle Korn!

Honey, You Can Do Hard Things

By: Michelle Korn

Glancing out my window, I spotted a tall woman strolling by with a large dog, wind ruffling the canine’s auburn fur. The pair stood in the breeze, surrounded by lush lawns. Soon the dog lifted a paw and tried to venture into my front yard. Jarred out of her reverie, the woman coerced her explorer back onto the suburban sidewalk and away from my walkway. Off they went, and I was left thinking, “so much grass, everywhere!” It was the height of the pandemic and my previously urban apartment-dwelling family had recently moved to a small town. No more concrete, skyscrapers or subways. Instead of car horns, birds chirped. Flowers, not graffiti art, graced the facades of homes. If I stepped outside, the scent of freshly cut foliage, rather than the smell of roasting nuts from a street vendor, would waft my way.

My husband and I had decided to raise our twin daughters outside of the Big Apple. As a family, we were slowly getting adjusted to the burbs. Up to that point, I had never lived anywhere other than New York City. I was raised in Greenwich Village and even attended college in the city that never sleeps. So, for me, this was an immense change. Away from family and long-term friends, I wondered what I was “supposed” to do. I knew I’d focus on ensuring my daughters made new friends, but what about me? Did I need a local support system? As a New York native still living in Manhattan, over time I had made many good friends who were only a subway ride away for coffee and a chat. While in my college years, when local friends went away each semester to their chosen universities, the new school pals I had met returned.

Emerging out of the lockdown in unfamiliar territory, I wondered if we should join a local social group and meet some townsfolk. After some thought, my husband and I decided we’d sign up. Many of the people we met were lovely, and I wondered if we’d make some real connections. As time went by, I was asked by a member of this group to run the silent auction segment of a fundraiser. I hopped on board as I thought this would be a great way to raise funds for local charities as well as possibly make a friend or two. What I have not yet told you is that even though I’ve had my driver’s license since age eighteen, I’ve never really had to drive! Living in the city, I rode the trains all about town. Every few years, I’d take a refresher driving course. But here I was, in suburbia, expected to drive around picking up items for the auction. It was then I realized that other than helping raise money for charity, this experience included an important personal purpose. It forced me to drive…all over! Being committed to the project, I had no choice. There was no turning back.

Calmly and carefully, I drove around, gathering donations. A major goal on each outing was to make sure I found a large available parking space that didn’t require parallel parking! That, I knew, I was not ready for. One excursion led to an unexpected traffic blockade, therefore requiring me to drive around an unfamiliar area in circles, as I tried desperately to get my bearings. When I finally reached my destination, I was more than a bit shook up. That day, I admit, I broke down. I cried from the stress of being a relatively new driver, for the loss of the predictable city life I’d left behind, and from worry over how this new stage of life would unfold. Tearfully, I called that one friend who I knew would be able to calm me down using only a few words. She serenely listened to my woes and then said, “honey, you can do hard things.” Wow! Yes, adjusting to all the newness was a struggle, but surely I could do it! The conversation made me realize that no matter what you tell yourself, sometimes you just need to hear encouragement from a pal. And oh boy, that internal voice sure can be harsh. So, I picked myself up by the bootstraps (or should I say flip flops!), wiped my eyes, made some strawberry basil iced tea and fired up my car…ready to hit the road and gather more auction items!

Strawberry Basil Iced Tea Recipe

1 cup fresh strawberries 

1 cup fresh basil leaves

3 Earl Grey tea bags

3/4 cup sugar (or artificial sweetener)

1 heaping tablespoon honey

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Next pour into a heat-safe bowl. Wash the strawberries and cut off the tops. Now slice the berries. Remove the fresh basil leaves from their stems and wash them. Discard the stems. Then add the berries, sugar, honey and basil leaves to the hot water. Give the mixture a good stir, making sure the sugar is dissolved. Place the teabags in the liquid and let steep for 15 minutes.

Next remove the teabags and strain the fruit and leaves out using a strainer. Remove the basil, keeping the berries in the strainer and, over the bowl, press to remove all their juice. Add in 3 cups of cold water. Stir and taste. I usually add in another half cup of water at this point. If you want it sweeter, add sugar to taste. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator to chill overnight.

Serve over ice and garnish with sliced strawberries and basil leaves.

Note: I like to save the removed berries and stir into my morning oatmeal. Just place them in a covered container and refrigerate. They will last well for a couple days. 

Michelle Korn Bio:

A native New Yorker, Michelle grew up in Manhattan’s West Village. Currently, she lives in Connecticut with her husband, young twin daughters and their Maltipoo puppy. Michelle has always loved design, storytelling and all things romantic. In college her major was Fashion Design. She attended a New York City art school and graduated at the top of her class. Before her daughters were born, she was a fashion, costume and bridal designer.

Her online journalistic path started by writing about healthy food for children for a media dietician. Now she enjoys writing about her twins, fashion, decor, cooking and whatever else inspires her. Michelle’s main “fashion accessory” these days is a journal, where she jots down ideas for her next article. 

Some of her favorite things are hugs from her kids, the color pink, cute cupcakes, fancy shoes, sparkly jewelry, high tea and a fabulous spa day. Oh, and absolutely anything having to do with Jane Austen! You can usually find her out and about with her twins, typing away in her home office, taking a Cornell University writing course or concocting something in her kitchen. 

https://affectionatelymichelle.com

Instagram: michellefrancine4