Another small victory for me

A couple of days ago, I sent B a birthday gif..ahead of his birthday.  He looked at it, but initially did not respond.  This triggered over analysis by me...was the gif not well received. Was B angry at me?  Very typical AP thoughts.  Then I broke out in tears even though this was not face to face.  Tears have become an automatic response to being scared that someone will reject me.  I felt this overwhelming need to reach out again....to apologize...just to get a response....but instead i “paused”....I spoke to myself very kindly and considered other reasons he did not reply that were not “personal”....it was during business hours....likely he was busy.  Instead...later on...I sent a cutesy IM with a different gif...no expectation of a reply...and that is when he sent “ thanks with a smiley face”.  So I am learning to separate me from others and my actions from others.  It is slow going, but I do see myself growing up through this.  The opportunity to really consider another person’s needs without the filter of everything being personal is a great new mindset...and the pause is helping me in several aspects of my life...work, friends etc.  just wanted to share this.