The IRS imposes a tax on "the transfer of property by one individual to another while receiving nothing, or less than full value, in return." This applies to any transfer of property without adequate compensation.
Understanding your friendships from a perspective of financial inequality can help to realize that wealth often comes with hidden costs, including emotional stress and personal sacrifice.
When we look back on our lives, these milestone days are often the ones we remember. The key, I suppose, is balancing the need to claw meaning from the void with the imperative not to claw so much meaning that you end up in bankruptcy court.
Don't fall in love with potential. I think everyone should have a sign on their forehead that says 'as is,' so we remember to ask ourselves if we could be happy with this person just as they are now.