Do You Have A Shopping Smile?

Do you like to go shopping or is it one of your least favorite chores? When the cupboards start to get bare, and the grocery list is as long as your arm, do you get excited and smile, or do you cringe in horror? Has your attitude changed in the last few years? If shopping used to make you smile but doesn’t anymore, you aren’t alone.

The current cost of groceries is reason enough to hate going shopping. But, it seems there is also a different attitude than there used to be. People were so much friendlier than they are now. It almost seems like people are afraid of each other.

When I was younger I used to go grocery shopping to relax when I was feeling wound up or stressed. Walking around a grocery store with no list in hand was the cure for my overly worked-up brain. I admit to having come home with odd purchases I have no clue why they appealed to me at the moment. But I felt more relaxed.

I think at the time grocery shopping was a way to feel connected and yet be detached. While remaining within my own private circle, I was still a part of society. I could share a smile with passing shoppers, or we may interact briefly before going on our merry way.

However, it seems (to me anyway), that lately, it’s harder to find that quiet interaction between shoppers. It’s still there, but not as frequent or as obvious. I have always made it a point to try to catch eyes with other shoppers as I pass by them and share a smile with them. Most of the time, they used to smile back. Sometimes they would even wish me a good day.

Now, most often they turn away before I have a chance to look at them to catch their eye. Mind you, I’m not grinning like a Cheshire cat or smiling a coquettish smile, but just trying to share a friendly hello. But even that seems to put people on guard lately.

I still try very hard to share that smile when I shop. I know that crinkle in my eye is a dead giveaway that I’m a happy, friendly person. You don’t get eye wrinkles from being a frowner. Those who do respond back share broad smiles back and even a cheery “have a great day”. It’s just that there are fewer and fewer of them.

But, I won’t let them stop me from initiating first contact. If I have to be the first to throw a smile in order to get one, I’m good with that. Maybe if I share my smile first, and they get a return one, it will give them enough courage to be the first contact with someone else.

Hmmm. Maybe next time I’ll play a little game with myself and count how many smiles I get in return for mine. And challenge me to increase that number every time I go shopping.

Can we all play? Let’s all start sharing our smiles again!