It's about saving face

            Not everyone in your life is going to like you. Sometimes it's you fault, sometimes it's not, but there is always something you can do about it.
            We can all in insensitive to others feelings by our actions. Something trivial to us can be very important and upsetting to someone else. An innocent conversation can turn to controversy, an expression can cause uncertainty, and a gift can cause jealousy. The unfortunate thing is that hindsight is 20-20; you can't always predict what someone will think about something you've done. You can, however, try to make amends.
            In most situations and circumstances, an apology will suffice. Pleading innocence (or ignorance) is something most everyone does when we have wronged someone, intentionally or not. Detecting when we have wronged is usually easy to read if you know them well enough however, in some cases, it can be hard to decipher what it is we need to apologize for. We need to be willing to humble ourselves and talk to the one we have wronged about what is bothering them. Only then can you truly give a heartfelt "I'm sorry."
            Sometimes sorry is not enough though. Sometimes words are not enough to mend what a seemingly careless action has broken. Sometimes you must repay the debt. It might be by buying someone lunch or a birthday present but, if you are truly wanting to stay in someones good graces, you may be required to spend time and/or money to show you really care. On a different note, you must also be careful to not overdue it and seem to want to buy friendship or fall into the trap of "over paying back." You want to be their friend, not their personal gift shop.
            And finally, you must come to the realization that it is impossible to please everyone. It is hard to fix a bond that never existed. You can't always make acquaintances forget their first impression. You must be ready to walk away from the situation. It's more hard for some than others, but sometimes the best way to save face is to just leave the problem alone.
            It's impossible to not want to be liked. Human beings are social creatures that live and die on the acceptance of others. It's also impossible to not make mistakes and, when you do, you need to be ready to show weakness to your friends, be steadfast with your enemies, and have the discernment to know the difference. It's your reputation; it's up to you to uphold it.