September 10, 2024 • 22 mins
Imagine finding a serene getaway where you can truly disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life. That's exactly what you'll experience at The Haven at Serenity Cove, run by Lauren Ray and her husband Issayah. Nestled near Fall Creek Falls in Pikeville, this tranquil retreat features a tiny house surrounded by four acres of nature near a charming Mennonite community. On the Good Neighbor Podcast, Lauren shares her vision of helping people unplug and recharge in a tech-free environment. With amenities like a hot tub, outdoor shower, and spacious patio, the Haven offers the perfect setting to rest and reconnect with yourself and nature.
We also dig deep into the essential topic of self-care, as Lauren opens up about her personal battle with severe anxiety and depression. She recounts how a 30-day break from work, along with juice fasting and counseling, helped her find a balance between work and rest. This episode explores the Rays' shared passion for mental health, this secluded tiny house, and travel. From the absence of TVs to encourage relaxation (although there is wifi at The Haven for those who have a need to stay somewhat connected) to hobbies like hiking and camping, you'll hear about the joys of exploring new places and the importance of pursuing wellness. Join us for heartfelt insights and practical advice on achieving peace and finding your own sanctuary.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Scott Howell.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hello good neighbors, welcome to the Good Neighbor
Podcast brought to you by theFriends and Neighbors Group of
the Greater Chattanooga Area.
Thank you for being with ustoday.
You know the purpose of theGood Neighbor podcast is to
bring an awareness to localresidents about.
You know the locally owned andor operated businesses that are
(00:35):
in our area.
You know whether they're inyour little neighborhood or
they're across town or maybethey're in a neighboring
community somewhere in theChattanooga region.
We want to highlight theselocally owned businesses because
you know the local businessesare the backbone of our
communities and they still needour support.
If you're tired of going toplaces where big box type places
(00:59):
where you're not getting anygood customer service people
aren't smiling Thank you forcoming, those type of things
then go to a local-owned store.
Go deal with somebody who'slocally owned.
They depend on you to come inand do business with them.
I think you'll be surprisedwhat different type of
atmosphere that you'llexperience.
And every once in a while wehave somebody that like a guest
(01:23):
we have today that what they dois not necessarily right in the
local area, but it's somethingall the local people need to
know about, because we all needto rest every once in a while,
right, and sometimes we don'thave time to run to the Smoky
Mountains, sometimes we don'thave time to go to the beach
because they're not real closeby and we need to know about
(01:44):
places that we can make thesequick getaways.
And today I'm going tointroduce you to one of our
neighbors, ms Lauren Ray, andshe is with the Haven at
Serenity Cove and I think we'reall going to be interested to
hear more about this place.
So, lauren, welcome to thepodcast today.
Thank you for being here withus.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Thank you so much for having me.
I'm so excited to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, we're excited to hear all about what you have
to offer, but before we getstarted, I would like to give
you the opportunity, if you'dlike to, to share a little bit
about, maybe, yourself and yourfamily, and just a little bit
about your background.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Yes, I'd love to.
So.
Like you said, my name isLauren, my husband is Isaiah,
and we've been married foralmost two years and very
happily married, and my familyis all from Chattanooga, His
family's all from the area aswell, so I'm definitely a local
grew up here, yeah, and I'vejust always been kind of a
(02:46):
little entrepreneur, even when Iwas a kid.
I always loved havingbusinesses.
So, yeah, that's a little introto me.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Okay, all right.
Well, and now I want to ask youabout the Haven at Serenity
Cove.
I had the opportunity to lookat your website before we got on
, but a lot of people listening.
This might be the first timethey've ever heard of it, so
tell us all about it.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yes, I'd love to.
So you know, in today's world,as I'm sure you can relate, so
many of us are stressed out,burnt out.
Always on our phone, there'salways chaos.
Always on our phone.
There's always chaos, alwaysthings to do.
We're just so busy just on atreadmill.
(03:34):
And our haven at Serenity Coveis just all about bringing you a
place where you can rest.
You know, reset, recharge, justfeel like your best self again.
Because I know, personally,when I get under that much
pressure and stress, I justdon't feel well.
And the idea behind the Havenis to get out in nature.
You know, unplug, not be on ourphones all the time.
Just rest, relax, recharge,connect to ourselves and
(03:59):
reconnect to others as well.
So yeah, we're basically anairbnb with a mission.
Um, you could say we have onetiny house that's brand new.
We just finished building it,um, at the end of july, um, and
it's on four acres, um, kind ofin a meadow in pikeville.
It's very close to fall creekfalls, if you've heard of that
(04:21):
oh yes yeah, so I love FallCreek Falls.
We're about six to seven milesfrom the entrance, yeah, yeah,
so very close.
It does take at least a 20minute drive, just because it's
gravel roads, to get there fromour place.
I guess, depending on how fastyou want to drive on the gravel
road, it's how long it'll takeyou.
Um, but yeah, it's um reallywas designed just to be all
(04:47):
about rest.
From the color scheme I wasvery intentional about, you know
, choosing calming colors likegreens, um, and choosing
furniture that just invites youto relax.
So, yeah, it's super secluded,super secluded.
We border a Mennonite communityand it's kind of a destination
(05:08):
in and of itself.
It has like 25 little shopswhere you can get produce, yeah,
baked goods, jams and jellies.
They have woodworking shops,quilt shops, so that's a neat
place A lot of people like tovisit when they come out to stay
shops.
So that's a neat place A lot ofpeople like to visit when they
come out to stay yeah yeah, it'sthe Brockdale Mennonite
(05:33):
community, so that's a neatthing to do.
Also, just at the house we havea hot tub, we have outdoor
shower.
The patios, I believe, actuallyhave more square footage than
the house because, we reallywanted to promote being outside,
so those same reasons.
We have a lot of glass, lots ofhuge windows, we have a 12 foot
sliding glass door just toreally make you feel close to
(05:55):
nature, and all of that is justserving towards your rest, you
know?
So, yeah, we have that.
We have a lot of restful hobbysupplies.
You can come out, you can dosome artwork, try a new hobby,
just things that aren't on yourphone, aren't screen time, but
are helping you unwind.
We have a telescope.
(06:16):
The stars out there are justincredible because we're so far
from city lights, essential oildiffuser.
We don't have a TV, just goingalong with the unplugged theme.
So we do have Wi-Fi, though wehave fiber optics way out there,
if you can believe it.
So, I know it's not possiblefor everyone to totally unplug,
(06:38):
even if we'd like to.
So for those who do need tostay connected, we do have that
option.
So yeah, that's, that's alittle about us.
Our goal was just to make aplace where it is hard to feel
stressed out.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Well, I saw on the website.
I saw a picture of a hammockchair.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Oh, yes, yes, that's my favorite.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
That's like, oh yes, I could just see myself back in
that hammock chair taking a napout there in the breeze, you
know.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Absolutely.
I love that.
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Lauren, it sounds like a very magical place and
what I saw on the website lookedlike a magical place.
It's very secluded.
I mean, a lot of times we goplaces and we stay in tiny homes
and there's either four or fivein a row stacked right against
each other and so you don'treally have privacy.
But the pictures I saw showedjust complete privacy.
(07:34):
Am I right about?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
that?
Yes, absolutely.
I think that's.
One of our most specialfeatures is that you truly are
secluded.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, and it's nice to know that you're that close
to Fall Creek Falls as you cango enjoy that.
But I didn't know about thisMennonite Village.
That's awesome because you knowthat's a lot of people really
enjoy especially buying producethere, you know, knowing that
they don't use chemicals andstuff like that and you can buy
fresh produce, that's reallynice.
I might take a trip out therejust to go see that that's
(08:03):
awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Yes, I think you'd love it.
It's definitely a little hiddengem.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Yeah Well, tell me about your journey You're
talking about.
You know how, when you wereeven just a young girl, you
liked having businesses.
So how did you go from thatentrepreneurial spirit to
deciding to own the Serenity I'msorry, the Haven.
I apologize, the Haven.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Oh, no problem.
Yes, absolutely so.
Yeah, like you said, I'vealways had a little business.
As long as I can remember, evenwhen I was six years old, I was
always trying to come up withlittle ideas, so I guess that's
always been a part of me, andI've also always loved tiny
houses.
I just think they're thecoolest things.
But yeah, so the past fiveyears I have been a real estate
(08:51):
agent, which can be a superrewarding job.
It can also be a veryexhausting job because you're
often working 80 hours a week.
You don't get weekends, you'tget vacations.
You're, you're always on theclock.
You know to serve people well,um, which is awesome, but if
you're not also taking care ofyourself, your own mind and body
(09:12):
, you can get burnt out veryquickly, and that is where I
found myself a couple years ago,um, maybe two, three years ago,
um, I was, know, just in myearly 20s but having significant
health challenges that werekeeping me even bedridden in
some days I was having just verysevere anxiety, just all the
(09:35):
classic burnout symptoms, whichalso leads to depression.
So I just was really not in agood place mentally or
physically.
So I just really hit rockbottom with that and realized I
have got to do something.
So I took 30 days off, did afull reset, um, you know, did
like some juice fats, I did somecounseling, really trying to
(09:58):
tackle these issues.
Um, and through that experienceI, you know, started results.
I was having better mentalhealth, better physical health.
Again, I still went back intoreal estate, but I now had tools
and a good foundation oflearning how to balance that
better working and resting.
So that, really that experiencefor me just made me very
(10:22):
passionate about rest for peoplewho just want to work all the
time, like me, and so rest andthen also mental health.
So that experience, combinedwith now being passionate about
rest, mental health and tinyhouses and entrepreneurship,
that just all combined um, andthis vision was really just
(10:45):
gradually born, um, over thenext several months after that
well, that's a very common thingthat people we hear nowadays,
and I've experienced it as well,you know burnout where you
spend so much time working thatyou don't.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
You don't take care of yourself, like you said,
mentally and physically.
So, yeah, and it's great.
It's great to know what Ireally liked about when I saw.
You know it's not a very fardrive there to the to this place
, so if you just want to getaway for a weekend, you know,
it's.
(11:23):
It's a quick drive there andyou can rest and relax and not
be far back home.
You know, sometimes, sometimes Ihave taken, you know, little
quick trips to go relax, but bythe time I drove all the way
back home I was tired again togo relax, but by the time I
drove all the way back home Iwas tired again.
Yeah, I feel that, wow, or Igot there and there was so much
(11:50):
to do that I wore myself outdoing and seeing, and then I
come back home just as tired asI was, you know.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
So I really liked the way it looked.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
It was just so secluded and beautiful and I
could just be there, take a bookwith me, relax.
You know, so secluded andbeautiful and I could just be
there, take a book with me,relax, you know.
Uh, just you know what.
And, like you said, the factyou have wi-fi is great because
you got parents that need to bein connection with wherever
their kids are.
Something would happen, youknow so there's things like that
.
So it's really.
That's nice, but the factyou're not having a tv.
(12:14):
If somebody's just dying towatch a show, they can take
their laptop or their tabletwith them, right, and then watch
the show yes, for sure oh man.
Oh well, you know.
So outside of the business Ilaugh at a lot of realtors.
When I talk to realtors I tellthem I said you're like a mother
.
You know a mother's work isnever done, that's what it is
(12:35):
for a realtor.
Her work's never done.
But what do you and isaiah dofor fun when you're, when you're
not working, and he's notworking?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
oh well, we love to travel.
Um, that's probably our numberone hobby that we both love to
do together okay um, especiallyother countries.
That's kind of a big thing, um,and I'm also about to hit
seeing all 50 states.
That's been our big goal.
So oh wow cool yeah, sotraveling, hiking, camping.
I also um play piano, so that'sa big pastime for me as well oh
(13:05):
, wow, great.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
What type of music are you more talented in?
Speaker 3 (13:10):
um, I would say definitely.
I grew up playing a lot ofChristian music, um, so that's
still what I play mostly.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I've done some classical, but definitely mostly
Christian music.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Okay yeah, I grew up playing in church myself, so oh,
that's great, I love it.
Yeah, so, and you're talkingabout, what you do for fun is
traveling.
So what's your?
What's the favorite placeyou've ever been?
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Oh, probably.
We went on a cruise thatstopped in the Bahamas,
dominican Republic, grand Turkand Puerto Rico.
That was an amazing experience.
I would say that whole tripseeing all those island
countries was my favorite.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
All right, that sounds like fun.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Yes, it was, I loved it.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
And you know, lauren, one of the questions I was
going to ask you was have you,have you ever, you know,
experienced any challenges or,or you know, difficulties that
you can say made you stronger?
But I guess you kind of alreadyshared that with us, with what
you just shared about goingthrough that burnout and that
depression.
You know, depression can be avery difficult thing and, yeah,
(14:18):
I think you did the right thing.
You sought counseling.
Uh, you know, I grew up, I grewup in a, in a, in an age where
people, if you, if you gotdepression, people just said you
know, suck it up buttercup andyou know, get over it and you
know, today I can see where thatwould have benefited a lot.
If nothing else, have a lifecoach, somebody who can just
(14:41):
coach you.
Not necessarily not to saynobody ever needs to see a
psychiatrist, but sometimes it'snot that quite severe.
You just need somebody to helpyou set goals, help you get back
on target.
So you know whether it be aprofessional help like a
psychiatrist, psychologist, orwhether it just be a life coach.
I could see where that wouldhave benefited me so much down
(15:01):
through the years if I had knownto do that.
You know so.
So kudos to you for puttingyourself first at and taking
care of yourself so you can.
You can make sure you can takecare of everything else you need
to.
You know.
So thank you for sharing thatwith us a while ago.
I know sometimes it's not easyto share things like that.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Yeah, oh, for sure, I'm just.
I just hope that it canencourage someone else that you
know you're a valuable personand you deserve to rest, like to
the person who's always giving.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
You deserve a break now.
You know, and people that areable to.
I interviewed a lady up inCleveland Ms Glendora Condon is
her name and that lady isfascinating.
I mean she's so fascinating andshe, that's what she does.
She helps people and shout outto Ms Glendora, but but she,
(15:58):
she's just fascinating and Iwould recommend anybody to see
her to talk to Ms Glendora.
But she, she's just fascinatingand I would recommend anybody
to see her to talk to her.
I mean she's just great.
But to help people get back ontrack, you know, help get to
your emotional state, she, shecomes from a lot of experience.
She had a lot of difficultiesherself, you know.
So she can relate.
But tell me this so she canrelate, but tell me this if
(16:20):
there was one thing that youwish our listeners knew about,
lauren Ray, and I'm talkingabout the heart of your business
now.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Lauren.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Ray and the Haven at Serenity Cove, and even your
real estate business.
What's the name of your realestate?
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Oh, I'm with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Realty Center.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Okay, all right, so we'll just give.
We'll give a plug for that too,while we're on here, How's that
Great.
If you need a realtor, laurenRay's available right.
So so if there was one thingyou could say about the heart
and you wish everybody knewabout the heart of Lauren Ray
(17:05):
and everything that she does,and, and, but they wouldn't know
this unless you share it withthem and you'd like to shout it
loud and proud here today onGood Never Podcast, what would
that be?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
I would just love to say that if you're struggling
with any kind of anxiety, anykind of stress, anything at all,
and even if you're having agreat day today and not
struggling, you know you matter,we care about you.
That is the heart of ourbusiness, is that everyone is
valuable, that everyone deservesto just be cared for and to
(17:40):
rest, and I think that is reallythe core of who I am personally
and then who we are as abusiness is you are valuable,
you matter and we would love totake care of you for a weekend
(18:05):
can, so that it sounds beautiful, because, wow, I mean I, I
everybody needs to know thatthey matter.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Sometimes in life, things happen and we feel like
we don't matter.
I've been there, I've beenthere many times and where we
feel like we don't matter.
But we do matter and and that'swhat these places like you have
, the Haven at Serenity Covejust get away, unwind, get out
of the.
I call it getting my head outof it for a little while.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
I need to get my head out of it.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
And but I'm thankful for that you have places, we
have places that we can go, andyours being one of them, and,
laura, I want you to take amoment and uh share with our
audience about how that peoplecan find out more, whether
online or offline, how they cancontact you, just just the
different methods that theycould get more information.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
Yes, absolutely so.
Our main website isthehavenatserenitycovecom.
That's where you can book astay.
I am working on several pageswhere you can find a lot more
information about us, also aboutsome of our partners that will
come out to the site and domassages, things like that, so
(19:26):
that's a great resource to findmore about us.
Also, I have been running anInstagram account, which several
people from Chattanooga follow,that has showcased the journey,
and that Instagram handle isthehavenat serenitycove.
So you'll find a lot on there,a lot of reels and photos, just
so you can kind of see thejourney.
So those are the main placesyou can find us.
You can also book our littleplace on Airbnb as well.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Oh, okay, well, great , great.
So if you want to see pictures,if anyone wants to see more
information there's somebeautiful pictures on there.
You can see how private and howsecluded it is.
Just go to that website,thehavenatserenitycovecom.
And you can see how private,how secluded it is.
Just go to that website,havenatserenitycovecom and you
can see all about it orInstagram I'm sure you have
(20:05):
those pictures there too andthen the contact information is
on there the calendar, to bookeverything, or you can go to
Airbnb, like she said.
Either one, but, lauren, it hasbeen a pleasure having you on
the podcast with us today.
Uh, thank you for sharing allwith us about the haven and
sharing your journey, uh, yourlife story, and as well as the,
(20:30):
the encouragement to us that youknow we all matter, but, but we
all need to take care ofourself.
I think that's the message Ihear from you today.
We all need to take care ofourselves.
If I I think that's the messageI hear from you today we all
need to take care of ourselves.
If I don't take care of myself,who's going to?
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
So it's been a great message today.
Thank you for being with us,lauren, it's been a wonderful
pleasure.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Thank you so much.
I've so enjoyed talking to youtoday.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Absolutely yeah.
And to all the good neighborsout there who have been
listening to Lauren talk aboutthe Haven at Serenity Cove you
know, I know that it's probablysounded just as beautiful to you
as it does to me.
Go see those pictures, go lookat it.
And after listening to Lauren,I know that she hopes that
(21:16):
you'll take a moment to check itout and book a weekend and come
by and see them and takeadvantage of all they have to
offer.
And you know, and I'd like tothank all you listeners out
there for taking time out ofyour day to visit with us at the
Good Neighbor podcast andalways remember to support the
(21:37):
locally owned and operatedbusinesses in our area.
They need your support andthey'll provide the things that
you need.
So, at that, my name is ScottHowell.
Again, I'm with the Friends andNeighbors Group.
Everyone, go out and make thisa remarkable day.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNPClevelandcom.
That's GNPClevelandcom, or call423-380-1984.
Thank you.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Scott Howell.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hello good neighbors, welcome to the Good Neighbor
Podcast brought to you by theFriends and Neighbors Group of
the Greater Chattanooga Area.
Thank you for being with ustoday.
You know the purpose of theGood Neighbor podcast is to
bring an awareness to localresidents about.
You know the locally owned andor operated businesses that are
(00:35):
in our area.
You know whether they're inyour little neighborhood or
they're across town or maybethey're in a neighboring
community somewhere in theChattanooga region.
We want to highlight theselocally owned businesses because
you know the local businessesare the backbone of our
communities and they still needour support.
If you're tired of going toplaces where big box type places
(00:59):
where you're not getting anygood customer service people
aren't smiling Thank you forcoming, those type of things
then go to a local-owned store.
Go deal with somebody who'slocally owned.
They depend on you to come inand do business with them.
I think you'll be surprisedwhat different type of
atmosphere that you'llexperience.
And every once in a while wehave somebody that like a guest
(01:23):
we have today that what they dois not necessarily right in the
local area, but it's somethingall the local people need to
know about, because we all needto rest every once in a while,
right, and sometimes we don'thave time to run to the Smoky
Mountains, sometimes we don'thave time to go to the beach
because they're not real closeby and we need to know about
(01:44):
places that we can make thesequick getaways.
And today I'm going tointroduce you to one of our
neighbors, ms Lauren Ray, andshe is with the Haven at
Serenity Cove and I think we'reall going to be interested to
hear more about this place.
So, lauren, welcome to thepodcast today.
Thank you for being here withus.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Thank you so much for having me.
I'm so excited to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, we're excited to hear all about what you have
to offer, but before we getstarted, I would like to give
you the opportunity, if you'dlike to, to share a little bit
about, maybe, yourself and yourfamily, and just a little bit
about your background.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Yes, I'd love to.
So.
Like you said, my name isLauren, my husband is Isaiah,
and we've been married foralmost two years and very
happily married, and my familyis all from Chattanooga, His
family's all from the area aswell, so I'm definitely a local
grew up here, yeah, and I'vejust always been kind of a
(02:46):
little entrepreneur, even when Iwas a kid.
I always loved havingbusinesses.
So, yeah, that's a little introto me.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Okay, all right.
Well, and now I want to ask youabout the Haven at Serenity
Cove.
I had the opportunity to lookat your website before we got on
, but a lot of people listening.
This might be the first timethey've ever heard of it, so
tell us all about it.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yes, I'd love to.
So you know, in today's world,as I'm sure you can relate, so
many of us are stressed out,burnt out.
Always on our phone, there'salways chaos.
Always on our phone.
There's always chaos, alwaysthings to do.
We're just so busy just on atreadmill.
(03:34):
And our haven at Serenity Coveis just all about bringing you a
place where you can rest.
You know, reset, recharge, justfeel like your best self again.
Because I know, personally,when I get under that much
pressure and stress, I justdon't feel well.
And the idea behind the Havenis to get out in nature.
You know, unplug, not be on ourphones all the time.
Just rest, relax, recharge,connect to ourselves and
(03:59):
reconnect to others as well.
So yeah, we're basically anairbnb with a mission.
Um, you could say we have onetiny house that's brand new.
We just finished building it,um, at the end of july, um, and
it's on four acres, um, kind ofin a meadow in pikeville.
It's very close to fall creekfalls, if you've heard of that
(04:21):
oh yes yeah, so I love FallCreek Falls.
We're about six to seven milesfrom the entrance, yeah, yeah,
so very close.
It does take at least a 20minute drive, just because it's
gravel roads, to get there fromour place.
I guess, depending on how fastyou want to drive on the gravel
road, it's how long it'll takeyou.
Um, but yeah, it's um reallywas designed just to be all
(04:47):
about rest.
From the color scheme I wasvery intentional about, you know
, choosing calming colors likegreens, um, and choosing
furniture that just invites youto relax.
So, yeah, it's super secluded,super secluded.
We border a Mennonite communityand it's kind of a destination
(05:08):
in and of itself.
It has like 25 little shopswhere you can get produce, yeah,
baked goods, jams and jellies.
They have woodworking shops,quilt shops, so that's a neat
place A lot of people like tovisit when they come out to stay
shops.
So that's a neat place A lot ofpeople like to visit when they
come out to stay yeah yeah, it'sthe Brockdale Mennonite
(05:33):
community, so that's a neatthing to do.
Also, just at the house we havea hot tub, we have outdoor
shower.
The patios, I believe, actuallyhave more square footage than
the house because, we reallywanted to promote being outside,
so those same reasons.
We have a lot of glass, lots ofhuge windows, we have a 12 foot
sliding glass door just toreally make you feel close to
(05:55):
nature, and all of that is justserving towards your rest, you
know?
So, yeah, we have that.
We have a lot of restful hobbysupplies.
You can come out, you can dosome artwork, try a new hobby,
just things that aren't on yourphone, aren't screen time, but
are helping you unwind.
We have a telescope.
(06:16):
The stars out there are justincredible because we're so far
from city lights, essential oildiffuser.
We don't have a TV, just goingalong with the unplugged theme.
So we do have Wi-Fi, though wehave fiber optics way out there,
if you can believe it.
So, I know it's not possiblefor everyone to totally unplug,
(06:38):
even if we'd like to.
So for those who do need tostay connected, we do have that
option.
So yeah, that's, that's alittle about us.
Our goal was just to make aplace where it is hard to feel
stressed out.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Well, I saw on the website.
I saw a picture of a hammockchair.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Oh, yes, yes, that's my favorite.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
That's like, oh yes, I could just see myself back in
that hammock chair taking a napout there in the breeze, you
know.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Absolutely.
I love that.
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Lauren, it sounds like a very magical place and
what I saw on the website lookedlike a magical place.
It's very secluded.
I mean, a lot of times we goplaces and we stay in tiny homes
and there's either four or fivein a row stacked right against
each other and so you don'treally have privacy.
But the pictures I saw showedjust complete privacy.
(07:34):
Am I right about?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
that?
Yes, absolutely.
I think that's.
One of our most specialfeatures is that you truly are
secluded.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, and it's nice to know that you're that close
to Fall Creek Falls as you cango enjoy that.
But I didn't know about thisMennonite Village.
That's awesome because you knowthat's a lot of people really
enjoy especially buying producethere, you know, knowing that
they don't use chemicals andstuff like that and you can buy
fresh produce, that's reallynice.
I might take a trip out therejust to go see that that's
(08:03):
awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Yes, I think you'd love it.
It's definitely a little hiddengem.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Yeah Well, tell me about your journey You're
talking about.
You know how, when you wereeven just a young girl, you
liked having businesses.
So how did you go from thatentrepreneurial spirit to
deciding to own the Serenity I'msorry, the Haven.
I apologize, the Haven.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Oh, no problem.
Yes, absolutely so.
Yeah, like you said, I'vealways had a little business.
As long as I can remember, evenwhen I was six years old, I was
always trying to come up withlittle ideas, so I guess that's
always been a part of me, andI've also always loved tiny
houses.
I just think they're thecoolest things.
But yeah, so the past fiveyears I have been a real estate
(08:51):
agent, which can be a superrewarding job.
It can also be a veryexhausting job because you're
often working 80 hours a week.
You don't get weekends, you'tget vacations.
You're, you're always on theclock.
You know to serve people well,um, which is awesome, but if
you're not also taking care ofyourself, your own mind and body
(09:12):
, you can get burnt out veryquickly, and that is where I
found myself a couple years ago,um, maybe two, three years ago,
um, I was, know, just in myearly 20s but having significant
health challenges that werekeeping me even bedridden in
some days I was having just verysevere anxiety, just all the
(09:35):
classic burnout symptoms, whichalso leads to depression.
So I just was really not in agood place mentally or
physically.
So I just really hit rockbottom with that and realized I
have got to do something.
So I took 30 days off, did afull reset, um, you know, did
like some juice fats, I did somecounseling, really trying to
(09:58):
tackle these issues.
Um, and through that experienceI, you know, started results.
I was having better mentalhealth, better physical health.
Again, I still went back intoreal estate, but I now had tools
and a good foundation oflearning how to balance that
better working and resting.
So that, really that experiencefor me just made me very
(10:22):
passionate about rest for peoplewho just want to work all the
time, like me, and so rest andthen also mental health.
So that experience, combinedwith now being passionate about
rest, mental health and tinyhouses and entrepreneurship,
that just all combined um, andthis vision was really just
(10:45):
gradually born, um, over thenext several months after that
well, that's a very common thingthat people we hear nowadays,
and I've experienced it as well,you know burnout where you
spend so much time working thatyou don't.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
You don't take care of yourself, like you said,
mentally and physically.
So, yeah, and it's great.
It's great to know what Ireally liked about when I saw.
You know it's not a very fardrive there to the to this place
, so if you just want to getaway for a weekend, you know,
it's.
(11:23):
It's a quick drive there andyou can rest and relax and not
be far back home.
You know, sometimes, sometimes Ihave taken, you know, little
quick trips to go relax, but bythe time I drove all the way
back home I was tired again togo relax, but by the time I
drove all the way back home Iwas tired again.
Yeah, I feel that, wow, or Igot there and there was so much
(11:50):
to do that I wore myself outdoing and seeing, and then I
come back home just as tired asI was, you know.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
So I really liked the way it looked.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
It was just so secluded and beautiful and I
could just be there, take a bookwith me, relax.
You know, so secluded andbeautiful and I could just be
there, take a book with me,relax, you know.
Uh, just you know what.
And, like you said, the factyou have wi-fi is great because
you got parents that need to bein connection with wherever
their kids are.
Something would happen, youknow so there's things like that
.
So it's really.
That's nice, but the factyou're not having a tv.
(12:14):
If somebody's just dying towatch a show, they can take
their laptop or their tabletwith them, right, and then watch
the show yes, for sure oh man.
Oh well, you know.
So outside of the business Ilaugh at a lot of realtors.
When I talk to realtors I tellthem I said you're like a mother
.
You know a mother's work isnever done, that's what it is
(12:35):
for a realtor.
Her work's never done.
But what do you and isaiah dofor fun when you're, when you're
not working, and he's notworking?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
oh well, we love to travel.
Um, that's probably our numberone hobby that we both love to
do together okay um, especiallyother countries.
That's kind of a big thing, um,and I'm also about to hit
seeing all 50 states.
That's been our big goal.
So oh wow cool yeah, sotraveling, hiking, camping.
I also um play piano, so that'sa big pastime for me as well oh
(13:05):
, wow, great.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
What type of music are you more talented in?
Speaker 3 (13:10):
um, I would say definitely.
I grew up playing a lot ofChristian music, um, so that's
still what I play mostly.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I've done some classical, but definitely mostly
Christian music.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Okay yeah, I grew up playing in church myself, so oh,
that's great, I love it.
Yeah, so, and you're talkingabout, what you do for fun is
traveling.
So what's your?
What's the favorite placeyou've ever been?
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Oh, probably.
We went on a cruise thatstopped in the Bahamas,
dominican Republic, grand Turkand Puerto Rico.
That was an amazing experience.
I would say that whole tripseeing all those island
countries was my favorite.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
All right, that sounds like fun.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Yes, it was, I loved it.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
And you know, lauren, one of the questions I was
going to ask you was have you,have you ever, you know,
experienced any challenges or,or you know, difficulties that
you can say made you stronger?
But I guess you kind of alreadyshared that with us, with what
you just shared about goingthrough that burnout and that
depression.
You know, depression can be avery difficult thing and, yeah,
(14:18):
I think you did the right thing.
You sought counseling.
Uh, you know, I grew up, I grewup in a, in a, in an age where
people, if you, if you gotdepression, people just said you
know, suck it up buttercup andyou know, get over it and you
know, today I can see where thatwould have benefited a lot.
If nothing else, have a lifecoach, somebody who can just
(14:41):
coach you.
Not necessarily not to saynobody ever needs to see a
psychiatrist, but sometimes it'snot that quite severe.
You just need somebody to helpyou set goals, help you get back
on target.
So you know whether it be aprofessional help like a
psychiatrist, psychologist, orwhether it just be a life coach.
I could see where that wouldhave benefited me so much down
(15:01):
through the years if I had knownto do that.
You know so.
So kudos to you for puttingyourself first at and taking
care of yourself so you can.
You can make sure you can takecare of everything else you need
to.
You know.
So thank you for sharing thatwith us a while ago.
I know sometimes it's not easyto share things like that.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Yeah, oh, for sure, I'm just.
I just hope that it canencourage someone else that you
know you're a valuable personand you deserve to rest, like to
the person who's always giving.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
You deserve a break now.
You know, and people that areable to.
I interviewed a lady up inCleveland Ms Glendora Condon is
her name and that lady isfascinating.
I mean she's so fascinating andshe, that's what she does.
She helps people and shout outto Ms Glendora, but but she,
(15:58):
she's just fascinating and Iwould recommend anybody to see
her to talk to Ms Glendora.
But she, she's just fascinatingand I would recommend anybody
to see her to talk to her.
I mean she's just great.
But to help people get back ontrack, you know, help get to
your emotional state, she, shecomes from a lot of experience.
She had a lot of difficultiesherself, you know.
So she can relate.
But tell me this so she canrelate, but tell me this if
(16:20):
there was one thing that youwish our listeners knew about,
lauren Ray, and I'm talkingabout the heart of your business
now.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Lauren.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Ray and the Haven at Serenity Cove, and even your
real estate business.
What's the name of your realestate?
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Oh, I'm with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Realty Center.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Okay, all right, so we'll just give.
We'll give a plug for that too,while we're on here, How's that
Great.
If you need a realtor, laurenRay's available right.
So so if there was one thingyou could say about the heart
and you wish everybody knewabout the heart of Lauren Ray
(17:05):
and everything that she does,and, and, but they wouldn't know
this unless you share it withthem and you'd like to shout it
loud and proud here today onGood Never Podcast, what would
that be?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
I would just love to say that if you're struggling
with any kind of anxiety, anykind of stress, anything at all,
and even if you're having agreat day today and not
struggling, you know you matter,we care about you.
That is the heart of ourbusiness, is that everyone is
valuable, that everyone deservesto just be cared for and to
(17:40):
rest, and I think that is reallythe core of who I am personally
and then who we are as abusiness is you are valuable,
you matter and we would love totake care of you for a weekend
(18:05):
can, so that it sounds beautiful, because, wow, I mean I, I
everybody needs to know thatthey matter.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Sometimes in life, things happen and we feel like
we don't matter.
I've been there, I've beenthere many times and where we
feel like we don't matter.
But we do matter and and that'swhat these places like you have
, the Haven at Serenity Covejust get away, unwind, get out
of the.
I call it getting my head outof it for a little while.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
I need to get my head out of it.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
And but I'm thankful for that you have places, we
have places that we can go, andyours being one of them, and,
laura, I want you to take amoment and uh share with our
audience about how that peoplecan find out more, whether
online or offline, how they cancontact you, just just the
different methods that theycould get more information.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
Yes, absolutely so.
Our main website isthehavenatserenitycovecom.
That's where you can book astay.
I am working on several pageswhere you can find a lot more
information about us, also aboutsome of our partners that will
come out to the site and domassages, things like that, so
(19:26):
that's a great resource to findmore about us.
Also, I have been running anInstagram account, which several
people from Chattanooga follow,that has showcased the journey,
and that Instagram handle isthehavenat serenitycove.
So you'll find a lot on there,a lot of reels and photos, just
so you can kind of see thejourney.
So those are the main placesyou can find us.
You can also book our littleplace on Airbnb as well.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Oh, okay, well, great , great.
So if you want to see pictures,if anyone wants to see more
information there's somebeautiful pictures on there.
You can see how private and howsecluded it is.
Just go to that website,thehavenatserenitycovecom.
And you can see how private,how secluded it is.
Just go to that website,havenatserenitycovecom and you
can see all about it orInstagram I'm sure you have
(20:05):
those pictures there too andthen the contact information is
on there the calendar, to bookeverything, or you can go to
Airbnb, like she said.
Either one, but, lauren, it hasbeen a pleasure having you on
the podcast with us today.
Uh, thank you for sharing allwith us about the haven and
sharing your journey, uh, yourlife story, and as well as the,
(20:30):
the encouragement to us that youknow we all matter, but, but we
all need to take care ofourself.
I think that's the message Ihear from you today.
We all need to take care ofourselves.
If I I think that's the messageI hear from you today we all
need to take care of ourselves.
If I don't take care of myself,who's going to?
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
So it's been a great message today.
Thank you for being with us,lauren, it's been a wonderful
pleasure.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Thank you so much.
I've so enjoyed talking to youtoday.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Absolutely yeah.
And to all the good neighborsout there who have been
listening to Lauren talk aboutthe Haven at Serenity Cove you
know, I know that it's probablysounded just as beautiful to you
as it does to me.
Go see those pictures, go lookat it.
And after listening to Lauren,I know that she hopes that
(21:16):
you'll take a moment to check itout and book a weekend and come
by and see them and takeadvantage of all they have to
offer.
And you know, and I'd like tothank all you listeners out
there for taking time out ofyour day to visit with us at the
Good Neighbor podcast andalways remember to support the
(21:37):
locally owned and operatedbusinesses in our area.
They need your support andthey'll provide the things that
you need.
So, at that, my name is ScottHowell.
Again, I'm with the Friends andNeighbors Group.
Everyone, go out and make thisa remarkable day.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNPClevelandcom.
That's GNPClevelandcom, or call423-380-1984.
Thank you.
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