Let’s get one thing out of the way. I could absolutely say my favorite person right now is the Pope. He’s cool, he’s chill, and honestly both the current pope and the last one had that quiet “I see the absurdity of humanity and choose peace anyway” vibe. Respect.

I could also say my favorite people are the usual suspects such as family, my son, the whole “yada yada yada” cast of heartwarming characters. Yes, Seinfeld is still lodged in my psyche like a cozy little sitcom parasite.

But today? My heart belongs to a very different tribe.

My favorite people right now are the people who are not lazy. The folks who actually (imagine this) follow through. Who do the thing they said they were going to do without disappearing into the witness protection program. The ones who don’t create unnecessary chaos because “they forgot” or “it slipped” or “Mercury was in retrograde.” (Mercury has been blamed for enough. Give that planet a break.)

Then there’s the shining star of my commute. The commuter-rail ticket enforcer who walks the aisles with the kind of smile that suggests she could be in a toothpaste commercial, even though she has probably heard 19 excuses about missing monthly passes before 8 a.m. That level of grace? Olympic sport. Gold medal.

But the truth, although slightly petty, is that my favorite people right now are also the ones who dislike the same everyday people I dislike. Yes, I said it.

The solidarity of shared annoyance is one of life’s greatest bonding agents. Family is lovely, but find me someone who mutters “oh lord, not them again” at the same time I do, and suddenly we’re trauma-bonded besties standing shoulder to shoulder in the battle of daily nonsense.

Sometimes you just need someone who will hold your hair when you puke and also stick their tongue out at the idiots you both agree are, in fact, idiots. Dual-function humans. Emotional support + petty partner in crime.

That’s my tribe.
The doers. The helpers. The cheerfully competent. The fed-up but fabulous. The ones who make life easier, not harder.

Because at this moment in time? I am dedicating my heart to the people who aren’t making me miserable. Who aren’t adding to the pile of chaos. Who aren’t creating work because they can’t be bothered.

My favorite people are the ones who show up with a smile, a plan, a sense of humor, and occasionally, a well-timed eye roll.

Amen. And pass the popcorn.