Hard Work: The Babylonian Path to Freedom

Between 3rd and 6th grade, I spent nearly as many nights at Ben Harvell’s house as I did my own. Looking back, our friendship was built on common interests, close proximity, and playing on the same sports teams. But what truly strengthened our bond was something unique: both of our parents believed in chores.

Chores are different from jobs. There is no guaranteed compensation, only work for the sake of working. Often, our parents did not even explain why the task needed doing.

When Ben and I first became friends, I felt awkward asking him to help with my chores. But if you want to spend time with a friend who has chores, eventually you end up helping them with theirs.

One sweltering summer day, Ben and I were unloading a trailer of hay into the loft. Dust and hay particles clung to every part of me, and I kept rubbing my eyes just to see the next bale. Hot, hungry, sweaty, and exhausted, I was ready to quit. I glanced up into the loft expecting to see Ben just as miserable, but to my surprise, he was laughing at his own joke and skipping back for another bale.

Half an hour later, as we walked to lunch, I asked, “Why were you laughing? This sucks.”

“Nah, man. I love it. Just gotta embrace the suck, it helps a lot.”

It is easy to feel trapped by the work we face in life, whether stacking hay bales, raking leaves, writing essays, or having a difficult conversation. But that day, Ben showed me that hard work is not something to avoid. It is something to embrace.

Our attitude toward work often determines how it feels. And as you might recognize, this is not a new idea. In The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason, Chapter 10 tells the story of a former slave who “made work his friend, and by doing so, earned his freedom.” The same principle applies today: the work we fear can actually set us free.

If your responsibilities feel like a jail cell, hard work is the key that unlocks the door.

Embrace the work others avoid, and you will find the freedom they will never know.

Fact

Psychologists have found that people who view effort as a path to growth rather than a burden report higher motivation, resilience, and life satisfaction.

Action

Pick one task this week you normally resist — whether chores, study, or a tough conversation — and intentionally embrace it as a friend instead of dreading it.

Question

What part of your life feels like a “jail cell,” and how might hard work be the key to unlocking that door?

Quote

“Work is the best friend I’ve ever known, for it has brought me all the good things I’ve had.” - George S. Clason, The Richest Man in Babylon