Shopping For Love

What draws you to shop where you do? Is it convenience? Low prices? The smell? Perhaps it because the store is clean or the parking is convenient? Or maybe it’s a familiarity thing? Is it the same reason why you keep going back?

Recently, I was picking up some fish at the grocery store. When the guy behind the counter handed me my wrapped cod, he said “And just for that, you get a smiley face.” As I looked down at my fish, I noticed what he had done and it made me smile. But before I had a chance to soak up the man’s sweetness, he finished with “Management told us we have to start drawing smiley faces for customers on their packages.” “Thanks. I was feeling pretty special for about 5 seconds”, I thought to myself as I pushed my shopping cart away. What would possess this man to spoil a perfectly awesome moment, a moment that brightened my day with such a simple gesture!? Was he not accustomed being nice? Maybe he was having an off day? I’ll never know. But I will say that I will never forget that moment. It’s definitely affected how often I will visit that store.

The other night I was heading to the local health food market across town. As I often do, I got lost in my own thoughts and missed the exit. By the time I arrived, it was 7 minutes before the store was to close. I rushed around to get all of my groceries as fast as I could and made it to the register in record time. As the woman checked me out, I realized I had forgotten something. As I hurried away apologetically, the woman smiled and told me to take my time, that there is no need to rush. A few minutes later the store is closed and I am still there. What happens next surprises me. The clerk proceeds to invite me to join their new rewards program that will save me tons of cash! She asks me if I would fill out the short form. I offered to bring it back next time so she could go home. She said, “No. I have all the time in the world, but if you don’t have time that’s okay.” Seriously? This woman is not dying to get home, put her feet up and cuddle with family? She actually cares!

Last week while on my way to the thermos store, I made an impromptu stop at a natural living shop. It was filled with lotions and potions and gifts and books and I was instantly sucked in. Shortly after my arrival, a woman approached me and was commenting on an item I had picked up. She then began to share her personal experience with that product, and continued with the story of how she came to open this beautiful store. I was having a delightful conversation with the owner! She invited me back for a special evening of free pampering the store hosting the following week and even gave me a hug before I finished my browsing. I floated out with a bag full of goodies for my husband that day…gift wrapped at no additional charge! On my drive home, I was scheming all the gifts I would buy for my family and friends this year at THAT store.

It takes only a moment to brighten someone’s day, to make them feel special. All week we are stuck in traffic, dealing with screaming kids, bills, and work deadlines. Doesn’t it feel refreshing to walk into an oasis where you are instantly enveloped into a love sandwich? All it takes is one smile, one word, one hug to change a person’s entire day and attitude. Go out of your way to compliment someone on their new lipstick or their shoes. Notice their new haircut. Tell them you were thinking of them. Give them a gift. If we all adopted such practices, bad days might become extinct and the six o’clock news would end up with a positivity make-over! Okay, maybe that’s pushing it. But remember, it is the little things that make the world a better place to live.