Scroll your contacts and count who you’d call with a flat tire at midnight. That number is your real friend count.

People carry a large list of contacts and a very short list of those they would actually disturb. The second number is the real measure, and it is smaller than anyone expects, including for people who seem to know everybody. A small number is not a failure; three is a good life.

If the list feels thin, treat that as a direction rather than a verdict. Pick one person who might be on it and do something that moves them closer, such as asking a small favor or offering one. And tell the people already on the list, since most of them have no idea.