Episode Summary:  This is Rambles & Doodles, the research and development podcast about reflection, journaling, and self discovery. Melinda tells a story about Mr. T and shooting free throws. She then asks: What are the living conditions I need to grow? How does that live in my body? Through Sonya Renee Taylor’s text “The Body Is Not An Apology”, she explores the “your body is not good enough” message that fat bodies and other marginalized bodies receive and how that creates distance between ourselves and our bodies. Paying attention to her body led her to realize she needed to shift Sleep, Food, & People to take care of her body the way she would someone else. Food - focus not on changing her body but on taking care of it. Sleep - accepting natural sleep patterns, embracing naps, not thinking of herself as a good or bad sleeper. People - it is easy to prioritize helping others and help heal them to make our relationship better. Instead, she started to think about how the people around her made her feel in her body.

This week's journaling prompt: In the center, draw yourself or an image of yourself. Write all the things you need - professional, physical, emotional all of them. On the outside, write all the conditions you need to grow in a lush, full, glorious way. Set your timer for 10 minutes. Check in with your body. How does it feel?

Journal Tip: Use what you love - choose materials that make you happy!

Syllabus for the week: Enneagram test , The Body Is Not An Apology 

Follow @melinda.barbosa for more prompts, updates and more!

Created, Hosted and Edited: by Melinda Barbosa Produced by: Marlees West(IG @_marlees) of The Sticky Thoughts Podcast (IG @theStickyThoughtsPodcast)