I give freely to those closest to me. At one level out, in a personal project I get paid for (but one disconnected from my “professional” life and role), there’s an imbalance: I give more than I get paid to give and get paid at a rate far below what I would charge in my purely professional realm. But it’s an appropriate imbalance, because I care deeply about the people whom I serve and what their results are.

At a further level, a purely professional one, it’s transactional most of the time (but the best and favorite clients often get more than they pay for–because I *want* to give more, and have enough experience to know that, over the long haul, that extra service will be repaid).

At the furthest level, when I’m writing, or interacting with folks I don’t yet know, it’s often free again–because I enjoy sowing seeds and seeing if and how they grow.

To me, those who value kindness are those who value the unknown. When you give, truly give, you do so without knowing what, if any, the return will be. Indeed, giving while expecting a return is not giving at all.

As you say, it’s a transaction–a sucker’s bet, and half-enacted. And you’re the sucker.

Not in this day and age, pal.

Now quit smoking that joint and get back to work.

:-)