When I moved to Calgary I had no concept how the lack of retail or grocery outlets in relation to the population could wreak so much havoc on a shopping trip. At first I just figured it was a fluke that everyone in Calgary showed up at Costco at the same time. Two Costco’s serving a city of a million people somehow just did not compute, but because I was a 9-5er I sucked it up and chose Sunday afternoon as my mode of punishment.
Cranky, cantankerous, impatient and ornery. NO, not me, the other shoppers! I cannot believe the treatment people extend to one another while trying to park, first of all, and then manoeuvre the aisles. The rolling of the eyes, the heavy sighs and the crying children. Is it really worth all that? To me it sure is!
I get such a kick out of observing people and their behaviours. Get real. You’re at Costco on a Sunday and there are only 2 of them in the City. What do you expect? A quiet, serene shopping experience? I laugh when I watch someone run for the last box of Kashi, or when I see someone nudge a cart with a scowl because there’s no room to move down the aisle. Standing in a line that’s literally half way to the back of the store just to pay – well, if it’s a one or two item run I’m thinking you probably won’t make it through the patience test.
I must be a sucker for punishment. I don’t normally like shopping in those crowds either, but I do go to Costco for the sheer entertainment of it. When someone’s gunning it for a parking spot, I wave and smile and let them go ahead of me. When I get jabbed by a cart or an elbow, I smile and apologize for being in the way and say something about being out of my mind to try and shop there on a Sunday (key word – smile). It’s weird. I don’t really get a kick out of it anywhere else, but maybe it’s the constant ‘Christmas Rush’ that makes me want to be nice.
People don’t know what to do when you’re nice to them when they’ve just been rude or obnoxious. I love it! Even though I’m not a 9-5er anymore, I still often find myself in Costco on Sunday afternoons. It’s free (Haha who am I kidding, they get their money’s worth out of me!). It’s definitely entertainment.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
READ IT:
Be Nice or Else by Wynn Claybaugh
Always such a positive outlook, Shandra! I will certainly think of this the next time I’m fighting my way through the crowds at Costco or Walmart or wherever I am. I look forward to reading what you write next.
If it makes you smile when you’re in a crowd, I’ve accomplished my desired result! Thanks for reading. 🙂
Still doesnt make me want to go to costco. But i am thankful that we have more than 2, and one of them is near my home.i just may look at lineups differently now…or appreciate sherwood park more.
I found out after I wrote it that there is a new one but still, not a lot for Calgary. What I have found out though, is that Tuesday afternoons are very quiet so I’ve taken advantage of that a couple of times!
If you want to do something else that I find fun walk around the mall smiling people think your nuts. Did that today I’m sure people were looking at me like why is she so happy. I’ll be honest I do get asked for directions a lot but I still think it is fun.
In your case, people don’t need to think…they know! We could all learn to smile a little more and lift someone else’s spirits by that one smalll act.