People, be they strangers, acquaintances, or friends, have a way of reminding you of what you cherish the most in your life. Things like privacy, comedy, genuine peace and comfort in any environment.

Whether it’s in joy, or the opposite of it, they have a way to bring out that unfiltered side of you. One that you do your best to reserve, sometimes around people that you’ve known and grown up with.

Praise the many of you that live their lives unfiltered, even when you’re on the clock. I’m cracking up as I type this, because I know results may vary in different professional settings.

No matter what the life span of your social battery is, or how you divide it between planned gatherings or store runs, it’s important to know who and what’s charging and draining you.

You never know how influential, and even protective, your good vibes can be through proper recharging. Even more when you project them in a way that fits those comforts that you took the time to identify and reinforce.

So even if you are one of the many who say “people suck” (and I’m often one of them), give as much grace as you can around them. They may teach you something about yourself that you weren’t aware of, or forgot all about.