Started watching how confident people take up space - realized I'd been making myself small

Was people-watching at a coffee shop yesterday. Noticed something I'd never seen before: confident people didn't just walk differently - they existed differently.

They stretched their arms when thinking. Let their legs take up space. Gestured while talking like they owned the air around them.

Caught my own reflection - arms crossed, legs tucked, basically trying to occupy as little space as possible. Like I was apologizing for existing.

Started experimenting. Uncrossed my arms. Let my shoulders drop. Put my elbows on the armrests.

Felt weird. Uncomfortable. Like I was being rude somehow. Then realized: I'd trained myself to stay small, and my body had learned the lesson too well.

Now I notice it everywhere. In meetings. On the train. How much space we take up is how much space we think we deserve.

Still feels strange sometimes. But my body is learning a new language - one that doesn't start with "sorry."