You Don't Have to Be Famous to Inspire People

Whenever I went to the grocery store it seemed that I would always get treated terribly by the checkout people.  I would always be polite and smiling, and say "thank you"; but for whatever reason, they didn't seem to like me. 

And then one day I noticed a patron do something that surprised me.  I was waiting in line, and he was checking out.  The cashier had no one to help her bag the groceries because they were short of staff at that time.  Now, what surprised me was that instead of waiting for the cashier to bag his groceries, like everyone else did, this young man bagged his own groceries and went off. 

I had never seen anyone do that in this store and so I was amazed.  At this particular store, they usually bag your groceries for you.  I think people actually expect that service, and that's why you pay a little more to go there versus other places where you bag your own groceries.  So it never occurred to me to help bag my own groceries.  I had concluded or assumed that it was "their job" and not mine to do it, and so I would always just stand by and watch them do it. 

But after seeing that young man commit such a generous act, I realized that I could do the same.  It was like seeing him do that gave me permission to do the same.  I now understood that even though bagging groceries was "their job" because it was among the company's services, it didn't mean I couldn't help out a fellow human being, especially when they were so swamped with patrons. 

And so, I started helping the cashiers bag my groceries when necessary, instead of waiting for them to do it all, and do you know what I noticed?  They were much nicer and friendlier to me because of it.  I think they appreciated the fact that I didn't treat them as servants but as people in need of a hand. 

Some may say that I am doing their job for them, and not being paid for it.  But then I would say that I am actually helping myself out by helping them.  For one, I get my groceries bagged a lot quicker.  For two, I get a positive response, which makes my shopping trips much more enjoyable.  Smiles make me happier than having my groceries bagged.  And besides, it's not like I do it all on my own.  They help me and are happier for it. 


Recently, I was in line again and a man was checking out ahead of me.  Again, the cashier was alone with no one to help her bag his groceries.  This man, however, did not help her out like the young man I witnessed before.  No, he did what I used to do and waited for her to bag all his groceries.  He had quite a few groceries so it took her some time to finish.  And all the while he waited.  And all the while I waited.  When it was my turn, I did what I usually do and helped the cashier bag my groceries.  Good thing too because I had quite a lot and it would have taken her a long time by herself, and I would have been waiting all the while.  She was really grateful for my help and thanked me.  But as I was wrapping up, I noticed that the young man behind me in line was anxious to get to the back of the lane as if he wanted to help bag his groceries too.  And to see that made me really happy.

To think that it all started with that young man who I saw helping someone in need.  I realized then that you can really make a difference by just acting in the way you think is right.  People will follow you, people you don't even know, and other people will follow them.  And you can create a whole revolution in behavior simply by doing one tiny act of kindness.