I stopped being useful to everyone who asked and three relationships ended within six months. Not with arguments or explanations. Just a slow withdrawal once it became clear I was no longer offering what they'd originally come for. That taught me which connections were friendships and which were subscriptions. - Silicon Canals

"A friendship is a relationship where two people show up for each other in ways that aren't tied to what they produce. A subscription is a relationship where one person provides a consistent service and the other stays only as long as the service continues."

"When you're always the one offering, some relationships quietly restructure themselves around your output. And the moment you stop producing, those relationships don't just weaken. They reveal what they actually were."

Many relationships can end quietly when one person stops providing what others expect. Generosity and availability are often mistaken for the foundation of meaningful connections. However, true friendships involve mutual support that isn't tied to productivity. Relationships can resemble subscriptions, where one party provides a service and the other remains only as long as that service is available. This dynamic can lead to a realization that some connections are based on utility rather than genuine affection.

Read at Silicon Canals