Everytime I go to a store that has shopping carts, I get so frustrated. Too many people just don’t take the time to push the carts into the outside corrals. They shove the cart and wherever and however it lands…so be it! I always try to at least somewhat fix them, or I have to admit, stand there until I have them completely organized. I do this for several reasons. One is to try to make the job easier for the poor guys and girls who have to do this in heat, cold, rain, sleet, snow etc…. Also, because I am always hoping someone is watching and realizes that they too can do a good deed by just helping arrange the carts better! Being out in the elements can be tough and by organizing them, it allows them to get back inside quicker. I know in the scope of all the bad things happening in the world, this may seem so insignificant, but I am firm believer in if we take care the little things….tackling the bigger ones become easier!
I often think about the quote by Aesop ” No Act of Kindness, however small, is ever Wasted” if we really live by this, imagine how much of a kinder world we would have! You never know who may be touched or helped by “a small act of kindness” If someone is having a bad day, offering an encouraging word, may just be the thing they need. Being kind doesn’t cost anything, but being mean can and may have many negative consequences. I decided years ago one of my “small acts of kindness” was going to be, organizing shopping carts. It’s almost become an obsession of mine : ) I especially am driven in tough weather conditions, as I see it as my little way to help the cart people, not have to be in the elements as long.
It’s almost ironic in some ways to me that years ago I picked this as one of my “acts of kindness” Now that I am an autism campaigner…..I know some of the people who work the carts at stores, are those with special needs, including autism. Several large grocery chains are awesome about hiring autistic teens and adults, and this is one of the jobs they give them. I have actually over the years been “fixing” the cart corrals when the person has come outside and seen me. Most often they thank me and that makes my day. I realize there are times and situations that may not allow someone to put their cart in the corral properly, but more times than not we can.
My purpose for writing this blog isn’t to lecture you about how to bring your shopping cart back to the corral….but to have us all stop and think how our everyday activities allow us an opportunity to do an act of kindness. As an autism campaigner I am especially passionate about doing whatever I can to help make life easier for autistic kids and adults, especially those who are working at retail stores. Next time you are at your big box store, grocery store etc….and you see a grocery cart in the middle of the lot…look at it as an act of kindness. After all if start with the little stuff, the big stuff becomes easier!