No Longer Out of Tune
How listening to my body—and a new micro school in Serenbe—is teaching me to live in rhythm.
Whelp, it turns out I have what looks a lot like pneumonia… again. Or close enough that I’m back on antibiotics.
For weeks, I thought I was just wrestling with my energy after my daughters heart surgery—feeling drained, unmotivated, and wondering if maybe I’d just lost my spark! And then my brain continued to spiral and jumped to: maybe what I’m building isn’t it. If I don’t feel excited and energized, something must be wrong… right?
Deep breath.
Lucky for me - last week I had a built in pause that got my brain back on straight. A 1:1 Human Design session with Alyssa Oliha. A Human Design what? I know, I know - what the heck is that, but that’s not what im talking about today. More on that in a future newsletter.
What matters here is I had a lightbulb moment that made me stop and pause. And that evening it hit me: shit—this feels exactly like March, when I had pneumonia. The same lingering cough, the same up-and-down days, just without the dramatic “hit by a bus” urgent care moment.
This time, thankfully, I paused and noticed so I caught it early
And here’s the thing: I’m proud of myself for paying attention and catching the signs. That feels like proof I’m actually living in tune with myself right now—eyes open, noticing the whispers before they turn into shouts.
Eyes open, noticing the whispers before they turn into shouts.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means to live in rhythm with yourself. It’s one thing to notice the whispers in your own body. It’s another to carry that same intentionality into how we raise our kids, how we shape our communities, how we choose to live.
Which brings me to what Im here to talk about today: what it means to live a little more in tune with yourself and a mom, teacher and neighbor I truly admire, Angela Brown. Someone raising her child with a sense of wonder and choosing an untraditional path launching a nature-rich, play-based micro-school that reflects that same spirit of intentional, intuitive living.
In today’s issue:
🤸🏻 Why Unstructured Play Matters (and What It’s Teaching Me)
📍 For the Locals – 🎁 Perks, 👀 In Case You Missed It, 📅 Event Calendar
🎒 Angela Brown + Wild Indigo Academy
When I think about living in rhythm with yourself, Angela Brown is one of the first people who comes to mind. She’s a mom, teacher, and neighbor here in Serenbe, and this August she officially launched something quietly that feels both radical and deeply natural: Wild Indigo Academy, a micro-school in Serenbe for kids ages 4–6.
Wild Indigo Academy isn’t about worksheets or rushing through milestones. It’s about sensory-rich play, child-led discovery, and building a foundation of wonder. Angela believes children learn best when they’re given time and space—to move, to imagine, to feel the grass under their feet.
Her vision didn’t come out of nowhere. It grew from her own path as a mother—choosing a birth center, embracing unstructured play, questioning discipline styles that didn’t feel aligned. Angela and I actually share a special bond—we both delivered our first kiddos at the Atlanta Birth Center the very same week. Slowly, she started weaving those values into her teaching, and Wild Indigo Academy was born.
“In a world that pushes faster, sooner, more… Angela has created a space where children can slow down.”
Talking with Angela reminded me that living in rhythm isn’t just about listening to your own body (though I believe that’s where it starts). It’s about carrying that same intentionality into how we raise our children, how we shape our communities, and how we choose to live day to day.
In a world that pushes “faster, sooner, more,” Angela has created a space where children can slow down and grow at their own pace. And that feels like a gift not just for the kids, but for all of us.
Curious to learn more? You can read about her approach and Wild Indigo Academy here. And if you want a peek inside the day-to-day, you can follow Angela on Instagram @mrs.angela.brown. It might spark something for your own family—or simply inspire you to rethink the rhythms in your daily life.
🏛️ Angela’s 3 Pillars for Raising Free Kids
When Angela talks about raising children, she distills it down to three pillars that guide her parenting and her teaching at Wild Indigo Academy:
Unstructured Play
Protecting time and space for kids to explore freely, without being rushed or directed.
Nutrition that Nourishes
Feeding children well and keeping them rooted in the natural world.
If you’ve met Angela, you know she means business when it comes to what you put in your body—I’m always watching and learning. So of course I had to ask what she’s actually buying so I could steal a few tricks. Locally she gets milk from Country Garden Farms (Newnan), meat from Saltz & Peppa Pork (Serenbe Farmers Market), Sweet Grass Dairy , anything from Good Place Farm farm stand (Chatt Hills), and seasonal produce from the Serenbe Farmers Market, plus pantry staples at Allchemy. And her go-to easy packaged snacks? Serenity Kids savory pouches, Scout Bars, Lesser Evil popcorn, and dried fruit from Allchemy.
Screen Time Boundaries
Being intentional about when and how kids use screens, so it supports learning instead of replacing it.
She recommends The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and points to @jericasannes on Instagram for calm, research-backed show lists.
🤸🏻 Why Unstructured Play Matters (and What It’s Teaching Me)
Of Angela’s three pillars, unstructured play is the one I can’t stop thinking about. It sounds so simple—of course kids should play—but Angela’s conviction reframed it for me. Play isn’t filler between activities. It is the foundation for creativity, emotional regulation, and self-discovery.
Since our conversation, I’ve been trying to notice where I let play happen—and where I get in the way. Spoiler: I catch myself interrupting my kids ALL THE TIME. I’ll peek in on them building some elaborate game in the living room and immediately want to “help” or “suggest” something. Meanwhile, they are doing just fine without my redirection. So lately I’ve been practicing hiding in the other room, reminding myself: stay the hell out of the way.
“Children don’t need more from us. They need us to step back and let them discover.”
And then there’s the scheduling. I swore this fall we’d only sign Rory up for one or two activities. Somehow we ended up with three — soccer, dance and nature explorers. (I blame my own enthusiasm, not his.) Which is why I’ve started cherishing the days with nothing on the calendar—the days where he can wander the woods or build Lego worlds and just… be. No clock. No agenda. Just play.
Angela told me, “Children don’t need more from us. They need us to step back and let them discover.” That line stuck. Because maybe that’s what we all need: less forcing, more discovering.
📍 For the Locals
🎁 Life at Play Perks
(New Section!) Exclusive deals + insider offers, just for this community.
I’ve got a little gift for you all. For the last year I’ve been working with my neighbor and intuition coach, Christina Trifero, who’s helped me practice something I didn’t even realize could be practiced: my own intuition. She’s gifted, grounded, and just plain fun to be around.
To spread a little love + light: I’m gifting two 1:1 Psychic Clarity Sessions with Christina (in-person here in Serenbe or virtual). To enter, just drop a ❤️ or comment on this post. Winners announced Monday.
Plus, Christina is offering exclusive pricing for Life at Play readers this month:
First-time clients: $50 off (reg. $290)
Returning clients: $20 off
Offer ends Oct 31—spots are limited.
Book here (this is a private link for your discount)
Learn more about Christina: www.spiritual-curiosity.com
👀 In Case You Missed It
Quick hits of neighborhood news + updates, straight from the community.
Little Bit Farm Corn Maze Sept 27–Nov 1 | Saturdays 10AM–6PM, Sundays 1–6PM Little Bit Farm (7805 Jones Ferry Rd, Chatt Hills) is back with its 3-acre corn maze, hayrides through 200 acres of pastures, and plenty of fall fun. Pumpkins, snacks, and farm activities for all ages. Private openings available for schools/churches. Learn more here.
U-Pick Muscadine vineyard | It’s the last weekend muscadine picking at Tangled Vines 8450 Watkins Rd. It’s only open in September so last day is Tuesday. Open Tuesday - Saturday: 9-6pm. Sunday: 2-6pm
New Tiny Sound Studio Local sound healer Meagan Myrick has soft-launched a cozy new studio space (room for seven) designed for private + small group sessions. Think soft mats, crystal bowls, and deeply nourishing sound baths. Sessions can be booked through her website or by reaching out directly.
Pumpkin Palooza: Harvest & Holiday Grand Opening Thurs, Sept 26 | 4–6PM | 9057 Selborne Lane Celebrate the grand opening of Harvest & Holiday with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, decorating stations, and fall-inspired treats + drinks.
Serenbe Dexa Day Thurs, Oct 9 | 10 AM–4:30 PM Get a Dexa Body Composition Scan or Bone Density Scan right here in Serenbe. VO2 Max testing is also coming soon—email acarr@dexabody.com if you’re interested. Sign up here.
Well+Made Interiors Launch neighbor Maddie Collmus has launched Well+Made Interiors, a design studio rooted in depth, soul, and transparency. She works with homeowners on new builds, renovations, and furnishing projects.
MELT Method Class at The Gym Certified instructor Shari Zisk is teaching weekly MELT Method drop-in classes to help rehydrate your fascia (aka your body’s “fluid highway”) and ease pain. Thursdays from 10–11AM at The Gym at Serenbe, $25/class, all tools provided. Reserve your spot here.
The HearingSmiths → Nacci Hearing Your neighborhood hearing team has a new name: Nacci Hearing. Same trusted care, fresh new chapter. The name comes from the Fibonacci sequence—the natural spiral that shapes the cochlea in your ear.
Bricks for Bear Creek Nature Center Support Bear Creek Nature Center’s fall fundraiser by purchasing a commemorative brick ($50 each). Proceeds go toward improving the outdoor spaces around the cabin, and your brick will be installed at the center for visitors to see for years to come. Order a brick here.
Autumn Kids Horse Clinics 4-week sessions start Oct 1–2, or Oct 29–30 | Hands-on time with gentle horses, riding basics, grooming, and fun activities. K–3rd grade: Wednesdays 4–5PM. 4th–6th grade: Thursdays 4–5PM. $200 for 4 weeks. Book here.
Fall Front Door Displays Neighbor Kim Bracey is offering seasonal front door designs with heirloom pumpkins, mums, and fall touches through November. Contact Kim at braceykim@gmail.com or 404-422-1313.
📅 Local Events
The newest events worth knowing about this month.
(There are always too many to list here—click for the full calendar of everything happening in Serenbe + Chatt Hills area.)
Serenbe Book Chat: This Isn’t Working | Oct 3 | Evening with author Meghan French Dunbar to discuss her new book This Isn’t Working. Contact 404-567-0386 for details.
Southern Chefs Potluck | Oct 5 | Georgia’s top chefs return for this beloved fundraiser. Tickets here.
Serenbe Porchfest + Día de los Muertos | Nov 1 | Live music, art, food trucks, and community altar. Details.
Spiritually Crafted Ladies Night | Nov 8 | An evening of sisterhood and creativity. $77 contribution supports a girls’ school in India. Reach out to Parish Hattub for more details.
See the rest: lifeatplay.co/events
If you’re in a season of rethinking things—how you parent, how you were parented, how you want your kids (and yourself) to feel—I hope this gave you something real to chew on.
We don’t need more rules.We need more remembering.
More curiosity. More trust.
More space to be who we really are.
And maybe a little less hustle… even in childhood.
From pneumonia whispers to parenting pillars, it all comes back to the same lesson: paying attention. Listening before things spiral. Trusting ourselves—and our kids.
That’s the path I want to keep walking. And I’m grateful to be walking it alongside so many of you.
See you on the trails (waving a stick so the joro spider webs don’t take us down!).
xx
Gina
P.S. If something in today’s issue made you pause, laugh, or text a friend — I want to hear about it. Hit reply or DM me. Hearing from you all makes me so happy, and it’s how this Life at Play community keeps growing.
Oh, and if you haven’t subscribed yet — what are you waiting for? Come join us.
❤️❤️
Thanks for writing about our lovely little slice of the world, Serenbe!