Tue. Mar 3rd, 2026

Sometimes my body holds memories in weird ways. I’ll be sitting at my desk, just scrolling through emails, and suddenly my shoulder does this little twitch. It’s like my body is trying to tell me something before my brain catches up.

Today, I caught myself tensing up for no reason. Nobody was mad, the day was quiet, and I was just sipping coffee. My shoulders were creeping up like they wanted to be earrings. I laughed a little, realizing I do this every time I feel like I need to be “on” for people, even if it’s just for an audience of one (me).

So I took a breath and let my arms fall. Nothing fancy. I just sat there and let myself be a soft person at my desk for a minute. My body relaxed, and I remembered that I don’t have to hold every story in my muscles. Sometimes it’s okay to let them go, even just for a few seconds.

I guess today’s lesson is that my body remembers, but I can remind it to rest. I don’t have to carry everything all the time. A little softness goes a long way.

Anyway, I hope wherever you are, your shoulders get a break too. We deserve that.

By Kabal Briar

Kabal Briar is a queer Black storyteller, educator, and creator reshaping what it means to take up space with truth and tenderness. Through poetry, essays, and lived experience, he explores identity, joy, body acceptance, and the many ways we learn to love ourselves out loud. His work blends softness with strength, humor with heart, and personal history with universal feeling. Kabal’s mission is simple: to help people feel seen, valued, and brave enough to live in their own TRUTH.

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