Working for Free

There is not much use for money after reaching an advanced age. Of course basic expenses like rent food and medical bills must be paid but outside of that money to me has no meaning. When I was younger and chasing the ladies it was important to have enough cash to wine and dine them. That was my main incentive to make money. But since my sex drive is greatly diminished there is no need for extra cash or women. My goal is to keep busy doing things that now have more meaning.

Many older people do volunteer work to give them a purpose in life, and also to keep themselves busy. Most work in hospitals or nursing homes where volunteer work is needed. I could have done the same but I had a better idea and that was to donate my services to any person that needed my help. That meant working for free.

I started out visiting small businesses and explaining to the owners that I worked for free and would be glad to give them a hand. Some asked me to sweep the floor or scrub out the toilet bowl, others asked me to stock their shelves. They all asked me to return the next day but I said that others also needed my free service. The following weeks was spent on the phone setting up appointments with housewives that could not afford cleaning help. At first they were shocked to hear me say that I was willing to work for free. But I convinced them that It was an honest proposal and for the next few years I was kept busy doing cleaning chores.

After buying a desktop computer I discovered another way to offer my services for free. It was an opportunity to write as many entertaining articles as possible at no cost to its readers. I found many article directories that were happy to publish anything that was interesting and within their guidelines. It was then time to give up my volunteer services to lazy housewives and devote myself to the art of writing. But it was not that easy to break off a free service which was needed to do laundry or wash cars. I had to lie to my friends and neighbors and say that I developed a serious case of arthritis and was no longer available. They swallowed my story and left me alone with the time to write my articles.

I now try to write one article a day. Once I have a writing idea it takes me only a few hour to compose and edit it. Submitting the article to about thirty directories is what is time consuming. Each directory has its own format and it must be followed. I have no writing blocks because my life was full of change and many different types of people. It only takes a little imagination to turn past events into an interesting story. I will continue doing it as a volunteer service until I run out of material to write about. But I think that is doubtful.
melpol