the ward method

Tag: fiction

  • My new mid-morning obsession.

    My new mid-morning obsession.

    I’ve entered my papaya era, and honestly? I’m not looking back.

    I used to be a “grab-whatever’s-nearby” kind of girl when it came to snacks. Half a protein bar, a spoonful of peanut butter, or something random and crunchy just to get through the slump between breakfast and lunch. But recently, I decided to romanticize the mid-morning lull. Enter: papaya.

    Yes, papaya.

    I know, she’s often overshadowed by her trendier cousins, avocado, mango, maybe even pineapple if we’re getting wild. But papaya? She’s the quiet one in the corner with soft skin, golden insides, and main character energy once you give her a chance.

    Here’s why I’m obsessed:

    1. She’s sweet without being chaotic.
    Papaya has this mellow, buttery sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm your taste buds or spike your sugar like a cupcake in disguise. It’s light. It’s gentle. It feels like someone whispering “you’re doing amazing, sweetie” directly into your nervous system.

    2. She supports the gut, and the glow-up.
    Papaya is packed with enzymes (hello, papain) that help with digestion, which means your tummy loves her. And if you’ve ever googled “foods for clear skin,” you’ve probably seen her on every list. Coincidence? I think not.

    3. She’s kind of aesthetic.
    Slice her open, scoop out the seeds, maybe add a lil’ lime juice or a dollop of coconut yogurt or blueberries? Suddenly you’re a wellness influencer in Bali. Or at least vibing like one between meetings.

    4. It’s giving intentional living.
    Something about choosing papaya as a snack feels… elevated. Like you’re not just grabbing food, you’re choosing nourishment. You’re taking a moment. You’re being the version of yourself who hydrates and journals and listens to SZA in the bath.

    Honestly, it’s less about the papaya and more about the energy of choosing it.

    So if you’ve been living off desk snacks or haven’t met your fruit quota this week, this is your sign. Go get yourself a papaya. Scoop her out slowly. Romanticize your Wednesday morning like it’s the start of something.

    Because it kind of is.

  • Meet the girlies: 4 Archetypes you’ve definitely embodied (depending on the week)

    Meet the girlies: 4 Archetypes you’ve definitely embodied (depending on the week)

    We’re all a little soft and a little feral. One day we’re lemon water + journaling, the next we’re three coffees deep with 45 tabs open and a playlist called “burnout, but make it pretty.”

    Whether you’re in your cortisol-conscious era or chilling into your CEO energy, here are four girlie archetypes that live rent-free in our collective personalities:

    1. The cortisol-conscious queen

    She knows her stress levels like other people know their Starbucks order.
    She’s tracking her nervous system, sipping magnesium mocktails, and reminding everyone that peace isn’t a luxury, it’s a boundary.

    Her vibe:
    Prioritizes slow mornings + sun before screen
    Thinks “regulation” is hotter than hustle
    Carries a supplement pouch like it’s a designer bag

    Her outfit:
    Comfy matching set, fluffy socks, salt lamp glow. Hair slicked, soul grounded.

    She’s not dramatic. She’s just not available for dysregulation.

    2. The chill ‘I don’t care’ cool girl

    She’s unbothered (or at least trying to be).
    She’s somewhere between “romanticizing her life” and quietly spiraling, but always in style.

    Her vibe:
    Makes playlists for every mood
    Lives in oversized everything
    Disappears for 48 hours, comes back with new film photos + perspective

    Her outfit:
    Baggy jeans, vintage crewneck, sunglasses indoors, probably holding a matcha or black iced coffee like it’s an accessory.

    She’s not detached. She’s just in her observe, not absorb era.

    3. The soft power CEO

    She runs her life with a combo of strategy, softness, and really good penmanship.
    She’s the girl who gets things done, without burning herself out to prove a point.

    Her vibe:
    Colour codes her calendar and her thoughts
    Has a morning routine but leaves space to feel
    Takes intentional rest without guilt

    Her outfit:
    Structured blazer, slick bun, gold hoops, wide-leg trousers, tote bag full of highlighters, protein bars, and ambitious dreams.

    She doesn’t chase. She attracts. (But she’ll follow up with a Google Doc.)

    4. The biohacking babe

    She’s regulating her circadian rhythm and probably grounding in the garden barefoot.
    Her TikTok is 80% wellness hacks, and she has at least 3 wearables monitoring her “internal terrain.”

    Her vibe:
    Cold plunges for fun
    Adds adaptogens to her smoothies like it’s a spell
    Thinks sleep is the ultimate flex

    Her outfit:
    Seamless activewear, scrunchie on wrist, chlorophyll water on standby, aura that says “I drink water with intention.”

    She’s not trying to be better than you.
    She just literally bio hacked her stress response and wants to share.

    So… which one are you today?

    Maybe you’re soft CEO by day, chill cool girl by night.
    Maybe you’re slowly becoming your cortisol-conscious self while scrolling through infrared saunas on Pinterest.
    Maybe you’re just tired, but in a cute hoodie.

    Whatever season you’re in, she’s growing, glowing, and doing her best.

    And that’s more than enough.

  • I went blonde (a few times) and they do have more fun.

    I went blonde (a few times) and they do have more fun.

    Going blonde wasn’t just a hair decision, it was an identity shift.
    A bold move. A “let’s change things up and see what happens” kind of energy. And let me tell you: something happens.

    It’s hard to explain unless you’ve done it, but there’s something about stepping into a new look (especially a blonde one) that feels like you’ve shaken off the old version of you, the one that played small, overthought everything, and needed permission to be bold. Suddenly, you’re walking into rooms with a little more confidence, making decisions a little faster, and flirting with the version of yourself you almost forgot existed.

    I didn’t go blonde thinking it would change my life… but it kind of did.

    Here’s why blondes do have more fun, especially when you’re in an era of rediscovery and becoming that girl again:

    1. You stop taking yourself so seriously (in the best way)

    Blonde energy is carefree energy. Not careless, carefree.
    It’s not about being perfect. It’s about choosing lightness. It’s permission to have fun again, flirt with life, and stop carrying the weight of every single decision.
    When I went blonde, I stopped needing to have it all figured out. I just let myself enjoy the moment more. Say yes to spontaneous nights out. Laugh louder. Wear the outfit I felt like wearing, not the one I thought I “should” wear.

    Sometimes when you’re figuring out who you are again, the best thing you can do is stop taking life so seriously and start playing a little more. Blonde-me understood that.

    2. You channel main character energy without trying

    Something about blonde hair makes people notice you, but more importantly, it makes you notice you.
    It’s the reminder that you can reinvent yourself whenever you want.
    And when you look in the mirror and see someone bold staring back at you, you feel bolder, too.

    Suddenly, you’re not overthinking the text.
    You’re walking with confidence.
    You’re trying new things.
    You’re becoming the version of you that you always imagined but never quite gave yourself the freedom to be.

    Going blonde became a symbol of my “I’m done playing small” era.
    And honestly? I’m still not over her.

    3. You unlock a new level of IDGAF energy

    You can’t go blonde without committing.
    You’re literally bleaching away the old.
    And that kind of commitment does something to your mindset, it shifts it.

    Blonde-me didn’t over-apologize.
    She didn’t obsess over what people thought.
    She said “ew” and moved on when things didn’t feel right.
    She posted the picture. She wore the red lipstick. She said no without explaining why.

    In short, going blonde helped me tap into my I don’t care what you think, I’m doing me era.

    And if you’re in the thick of rediscovery, healing, or just wanting to feel alive again… that kind of energy is magic.

    Going blonde might just be hair dye to some people.
    But to me? It was a line in the sand.
    A bold “I’m back, and I’m better” moment.
    A reminder that change can be fun. Reinvention can be healing. And sometimes, a new era starts at the salon.

    So yes… blondes do have more fun.
    Especially the ones finding themselves again.