There’s a story about Abraham Lincoln stopping on the side of the road to free a pig stuck in the mud. When his companion asked why he did it, he said he wasn’t being altruistic, he did it for himself. He didn’t want to hear the pig screaming for help all the way home.

There is always a price or payment. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, there are plenty of things that I’ve done, not for a paycheck, but personal satisfaction. To stop the sound of pigs squealing in my head. Probably because I think too much, always have. I realized that I have debts to the people who helped me along the way. So, I pay it forward. Helping where I can.

Some things just take money, either taking or paying. A paycheck is just part of the cost. What we are selling our time and effort for. I think I would rather invest in the future. Take my pay in kind. I’ll teach, mentor, give some kid a car for his first job. I guess the job I’ll do for free is just what was done for me. But like I said nothing is free. I’ll pass the cost on to the next generation; some lucky kid will pick up the tab. Maybe he’ll resent the cost.

I’ll just keep digging pigs out of the mud for free.

Daily writing prompt

What job would you do for free?

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