the lost man chronicles
book two: the art of love


only good for one thing

some people are only good for one thing. and once you've figured out what that special purpose is respective to you, you should leave all good things alone, and not attempt to hone or expand the breadth of their roles unnecessarily. should other applicable qualities be viable, let the discovery of them be inadvertent. certainly, create opportunities for them to arise, but never drag anyone through the mud of hypothetical expectations.

otherwise, accept, optimally employ to your mutual advantage, and move on. don't dilly-dally in frivolous small-talk about subjects which matter to you, that after a test or two, obviously do not make a difference to them.

you see, friends aren't what they used to be, you can longer depend on them for almost anything without feeling like a dentist. neighbors no longer automatically bring you fresh-baked brownies and barely feel obligated to feign friendliness, unless, of course they are either trying to sniff out something or were born of a different era. colleagues legally keep their distance, for fear of feeling or dealing with the touchy issue of harassment (unless, they're unknowing foreigners, then "they don't know any different" — lucky them). and countrymen? for what might you depend on them? well, for one, some will go to war for you, freedom fighting, i think that's what they call it now. a lot of others will indiscriminately consume and maintain the festering culture of gluttony that this sick society so highly reveres. a few will volunteer to serve you, by lying their way into a leading position. and many will just go about their way, alone, to do their thing, and that is good.

so, remember, some people are only good one thing, and the prospect of asking them for others should be left to grow on its own.




the art of living the art of living the beginning the art of love the art of love


legal l.m