Dear friends, This week, I caught myself slipping into an old pattern. A friend hadn’t responded, and the first thought that came up was familiar: they’re upset with me. For a long time, that’s how I interpreted silence. If someone went quiet, I assumed they didn’t want to be around me anymore. That belief sent me chasing reassurance — especially in romantic relationships — trying to close a gap that often wasn’t real. What stopped me this time was a quiet recognition: this feels familiar....