About this quote

Close friends give you room to drop the act and be plain human. You can fumble a line, tell a bad joke, or look foolish and still feel safe. Notice who creates that space in your life and make a point to protect it. Give that same permission back and you’ll keep the few relationships that actually help you relax.

When to use it

• At the company retreat with teammates I've worked with for years, we start making dumb sketches during a break, so I stop worrying about being polished and just join in.
• At a backyard barbecue with childhood friends I haven't seen in ages, when someone tells a terrible joke I laugh out loud and don't try to correct it.
• After a long training run, my running group starts goofing around with goofy victory poses, and I let myself be ridiculous instead of keeping a serious face.
• During a late-night study session with my old classmates, we start riffing on silly mnemonic songs, and I lean into the nonsense instead of cutting it off.