Have you ever assumed someone was uninterested in being your friend, only to later realize they were just shy or unsure how to connect? In this episode, I share two personal stories—one from high school when I felt like an outsider in the school play, and another about a surprising nickname I had in my neighborhood. Both experiences taught me an important lesson: people aren’t necessarily distant or unkind; we often just don’t know them well enough to understand what they’re feeling. Instead of jumping to conclusions based on our own expectations, what if we assumed less and made space for understanding? Let’s talk about how giving people the benefit of the doubt can change the way we see—and connect with—them.