The Myth of the "Free lunch"

Opportunities arise almost daily to accept a free lunch. Some of us shun the idea of getting something for nothing, while others seem to crave it. In either case it is wise to think about the expectation involved.

There’s always a catch, obvious or not, whether it’s  free lunch for school children, a sample copy of a magazine, or a meal at an expensive restaurant (formerly offered in abundance to physicians by pharmaceutical companies but recently curtailed since the government applied restrictions).

The free lunch offered to schoolchildren implies that the kids attend and follow the rules.

We have to read the free issue of the magazine to decide if we want it or if not, then return the bill marked “cancelled.”  The physicians must listen to a promotional presentation at the dinner.

Probably most of us don’t object to receiving something for free. In the first few months of life in our infancy, no one demanded anything of us. We were fed, clothed, washed and cuddled, and given positive, unconditional regard. Perhaps the hunger for the free lunch is a throw back to the bliss we knew (buried in the unconscious) before we became individualized and saddled with the effort to meet our own needs.

The appetite for a free lunch is common, and detrimental only when compulsive. There is a big distinction between receiving a free lunch and maneuvering to get it, like a manipulator or, worse, a thief who helps himself.

Conclusion: The term free lunch implies an unspoken contract. Although it tempts, the “gift” doesn’t deliver carte blanche. The reciprocity of give and take anchors us to the human chain of relationships.

Dear Reader, I welcome your thoughts on this tricky topic. jsimon145@gmail.com