My name is Elise and I am an avid proponent of building the life you want, not the life that is expected (unless those are the same thing for you). For me, that means a slow and intentional life. It means taking joy in the little things and planning to be here for a good time and a long time. It means spending time in nature and with people that bring me joy and comfort. It means making small, actionable changes to be more organized, thoughtful, and kind.
I lived a fast life from high school through my twenties. I lived in three different cities and states. I traveled to Europe and Australia. I attended grad school (twice) and law school. I got married a month after my 21st birthday. And, honestly, the things that brought me joy were not the high-paying job as a lawyer (I’m not sure if I experienced more excitement the day I got married or the day I gave up my bar license) or even seeing the world (though, I love to travel). The things that brought me joy were eating pancakes with my husband, baking via FaceTime with my sister, learning deeply and widely, and hugging my parents. What actually brought me joy was hiking in the snow in winter and the heat in summer. It was smelling pine trees and fresh earth and ocean.
It was the simple satisfaction of dreaming and organizing my life around those dreams.
A Study in Stories (ASIS) is dedicated to everyone who has ever wanted to take a beat, get a little closer to the natural world, and lead a low-stress existence. ASIS covers everything from self-care and personal growth to stress-free fitness and time management. I’m trained as a lawyer and linguist, and my goal is to combine these skills to create posts for you that bring in detailed and actionable advice from many cultures.
I decided to create this blog when talking with friends and family my age revealed that I’m not the only woman in her thirties struggling to build something calm and happy.
There are a lot of lifestyle blogs out there. This blog is specifically about living a slow, low-stress life. You won’t find a lot of fashion advice or home decorating tips. Don’t let my picture on this page fool you (I was at a wedding); I wear sweatshirts and shorts 89% of the time. Instead, you will find information about resilience and growth, and about the importance of connecting to nature (it’s about longevity more than anything). It is for anyone who needs help or encouragement as they write their own story. It is to answer all of the questions I didn’t know to ask and all of the questions I am still asking.
It is my goal to make your life easier because the less stressed you are, the more you will learn and the happier you will be. And happy people change the world for the better.