For example: the simple act of a yawn may be perceived by those around you that a) you are tired; b) you are bored; or c) they are boring you. They might even believe that the yawn is a signal, letting them know that you would like them to leave, and depending on you, it may well be.
Whether you intend to or not, you may be giving-off subtle signals for all sorts of things. Not just by the things you do but also by the things you say.
A pleasant compliment can make or break your day, depending on the tone of voice used by the person giving you the compliment. While one person may simply perceive the compliment in a positive way, others may detect a hint of sarcasm, whether it was really present or not.

I have discovered that I must be very careful of what I write in this opinion column. Things that I say about the people in my life are viewed differently depending on the readers' relationship to the subject - whether they be family, friends, acquaintances or perfect strangers. A simple comment made among family members may be taken out of context in a public forum.
I have found myself on the wrong side of several examples of misperceptions, those mentioned included. Either by saying something that, unintentionally, turned-out to be hurtful or by taking something completely out of context and getting angry about it - I'll admit it - my perception has gotten me into trouble.
Our perception changes with time, not only as we grow older but from day-to-day, as well. I am sure that many of us were having a "glass is half empty" kind-of-a-day on Monday. The weather was dark and dreary and it was easy to get caught up in the mood of the day.
I am no philosopher, but I do know that our perception is our reality. Our challenge is to remember that we all have our own take on reality.