There’s the version of me my friends know, the one my family knows, the one my bestie knows, and perhaps even a version only my partner gets to see. Then there’s the version people who barely know me get to meet.
Funny enough, they’re all me.
With my friends, I can be loud, playful, and completely unserious. Around certain people, though, I suddenly become quiet. I start thinking about what to say, how to say it, and whether I should have said anything at all.
Sometimes, I wonder how the same person can behave so differently in different places.
Think about it. You might be the funniest person in your friendship group but barely speak during a lecture. You might express your opinions freely with your friends but keep quiet around people whose reactions you’re unsure of.
It’s not always about pretending. Sometimes, we’re simply more comfortable in certain environments than others. The people around us can influence how freely we express ourselves.
So, the next time you see someone behaving differently around different people, don’t be too quick to call them fake. Sometimes, people are simply more comfortable expressing certain sides of themselves in certain environments.
And let’s be honest, I’m sure you do it too.
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