The world could be a better place if, after shopping at the grocery store, people actually took the cart back to the "return carts here". it is something minute, an act that can be done in 30 seconds, yet i constantly see people just leave their shopping carts to the sides of their cars, in front of and behind other vehicles, and anywhere they please as long as they can reverse out of the parking lot without hitting it.
this is a small gesture, but one that says a lot. it shows that you value your fellow human being by not leaving your things in their way. it indicates that when you are allowed to use something that is not yours, you will return it respectfully and in its proper space. it makes other people's jobs a little bit easier. it shows a certain amount of conscientiousness for other people. it is also one very small step that people can take to make the world a better place. will it change the world? probably not. but it may change someone's day. and if we are looking at the big picture, how would we ever acheive world peace if people can't even return their grocery carts to the proper place?
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I don't think it's that big of a deal, since people get paid to do that. Sure, it'd be nice for them if they didn't have to do their job, but it'd be nice for all of us if we didn't have to do our job. Plus, if there wasn't a job to do, they'd just get fired. I think it actually is a pretty big inconvenience to walk all the way to put the cart away and all the way back to your car.
... all of these "inconveniences" add up... and people wonder why America is experiencing an obesity epidemic?
I agree..it's not a big deal...and I know a lot of people whose job it is...and many of them actually like going out and getting carts...b/c they can kinda lag and not do much with the excuse they have to get the carts...I mean I don't like the fact that people's cars get hit with the carts...but I still don't think it's a very big deal
This is a very interesting blog because the issue may seem really small in changing the world but these small things can escalate into something even bigger or can be look at in a different perceptive. Yea it might just be someone does not return the shopping cart to the it's correct station after using it but it can also someone in poltics or in the government not returning something to its proper place after using it or just not caring about the person that comes after you. I can think of a specific example right not but I'm sure something like this have occurred before, and it probably started out with just not returning your shopping cart to its station.
I enjoyed reading the blog because I completely agree.
While reading your blog, I thought of the saying "it is easier to be evil than it is to be good." I am not trying to equate leaving your cart in the middle of the lot as an evil act, but I am just pointing out that it definitely does take more effort to be a good person and to be considerate and courteous. Check out my blog on a similar topic:
http://www.progressiveu.org/211325-unappreciated-behind-scenes
I would have liked you to spend more time on the benefits of doing the right thing though. Have you ever done the experiment where you say one good thing to a person and then they have to say another good thing to another and then you look at the chain reaction of your one comment throughout a web of people. It is a great feeling and quite rewarding.
I encourage those who think of putting your cart away as not a big deal, to think about your impact on others. You can make a positive impact and spread goodness or you can be lazy. The choice is up to you, but it is definitely worthy of your consideration.
I disagree and agree. I disagree with the true necessity of putting back your own shopping cart (even though I'm one of the few who actually does put in those little carousels - I love smashing them all together). It would eliminate some jobs and it is a pretty "minute" thing.
I agree with the necessity of showing some simple common courtesy for others in daily life. There is constant debate about "What can one person do?", but I strongly believe that one person doing many small kindnesses through a day, a week, a month, a year, adds up over people's lifetimes. Maybe we just need to metaphorically put back the shopping carts when we're done. It would at least improve the quality of ours and others' lives.
i think people are taking this too literally. it would be nice if people threw their trash away in a garbage bin instead of on the floor. yes, there are people to do that for us, but it would be nice not to have to see litter again. it would be nice if, next time you're trying to get on the interstate, you let someone in front of you, instead of cutting them off. it would be nice if you smiled at the person next to you. it would be nice if everyone offered old people their seats in the subway. a little bit goes a long way.
thanks. that is what i was trying to get at... if people are too inconvenienced to do the "little" things, then why are we to expect them to act on the "big" things? also, small gestures really go a long way... it's the butterfly effect.
i agree. things add up. like recycling. hey, how was that movie anyway? the butterfly effect with ashton kutcher.