Week 27: Cold Cart Retrieval

Wisconsin is currently experiencing a pretty severe cold snap. On Saturday, when I was walking out to my car after the gym in single digit weather, I thought about the retail workers who would be responsible for bringing in the carts from the parking lots that day. Then I thought about all the shoppers who probably would be more likely than usual not to want to walk their carts to their corrals. 

And that's when I finalized last week's activity idea. 

I went home, showered, waited for my hair to dry, and in the early afternoon, when I figured it would be most busy, my boyfriend and I headed out to help clean up some parking lots. 

We started at the Disney World of Saturday errands, Costco, where we found quite a lot of carts needing to be escorted to their resting places. 

One man finished loading his car and asked "Are you taking carts? Because I have one for you." I told him I was. He said, "No, I was kidding; I can't expect you to clean up for me." When I told him I was heading in that direction anyway he acquiesced and said, "You're a real good one; Santa is really going to reward you next year." 😄

After Costco we headed to Target, where we kept on driving because the lot was clear. 

Last up was Meijer, where we were once again put to work, but not nearly as necessarily as Costco. Mark headed to the far side to pick up a handful of carts left in the lot, and I headed to the front walkway to collect all the carts that didn't make it to one of the doors. 

On the way home I told Mark about a lady I talked to in the Costco parking lot (who, for the record, didn't think twice about taking the cart from in front of their car into the store with them) that said she had recently read an article that explained the shopping cart is a litmus test for society. 

I just looked it up and thought it was worth sharing, to at least think about next time you're at the store contemplating returning your cart of leaving it for someone else to take care of. 

Here is it for those interested:

“The shopping cart is the ultimate litmus test for whether a person is capable of self-governing. To return the shopping cart is an easy, convenient task and one we all recognize as the correct, appropriate thing to do. To return the shopping cart is objectively right. There are no situations other than dire emergencies in which a person is not able to return their cart. Simultaneously, it is not illegal to abandon your shopping cart. Therefore, the shopping cart presents itself as the apex example of whether a person will do what is right without being forced to do it.”

“No one will punish you for not returning the shopping cart, no one will fine you, or kill you for not returning the shopping cart. You gain nothing by returning the shopping cart. You must return the shopping cart out of the goodness of your own heart. You must return the shopping cart because it is the right thing to do. Because it is correct. The Shopping Cart Theory, therefore, is a great litmus test on whether a person is a good or bad member of society.”

Week 26: Grocery Gift Card Giveaway

Can you believe this little project counting down to my 50th birthday is already halfway over?! The past 26 weeks have flown by and in just six months I'll be entering another decade of life. Unreal! 

Last week's activity wasn't a new one for my regular life, but rather a routine one I've built into my professional life since starting my career as a real estate agent in Milwaukee years ago. 

After each transaction closes that I've had the privilege of working with buyers and sellers on, I purchase a $50 gift card at a large grocery store and gift it to someone who looks like it would be helpful. 

I have given them to young families with many mouths to feed, full carts when I sense people are stocking up on paydays, elderly people, etc over the years. 

Last week I purchased two gift cards after my last two closings of the year and walked the aisle in front of the registers to survey the checkouts. 

The first family that caught my eye included a mother, her daughter, and two grandchildren. AKA, a pretty fully cart. I approached the daughter and said, "Hi! I have a $50 gift card I'd like to give you to help with your groceries this week." She said, "Really?" I said, "Yep!" and handed it to her. She said "Wow, unbelievable! Thank you so much!" as her mom turned around to see what was happening. The daughter filled her in as I wished them well and walked away. 

The second recipient looked like a proud woman with two children. As she loaded her groceries on the conveyer belt I handed the gift card directly to the Woodman's employee and said, "Here's a $50 gift card to apply to her bill." He looked at me questioningly. I repeated myself, smiled at the kids and their mom and wished them a Happy New Year as I turned to leave the store.

I love my job. I am so thankful I can support my three kids by helping clients shop for their family homes and investment properties (that help care for their families). 

Being able to share my blessings with others is a gift I will never take for granted.