Liberty Mutual Insurance came out with a series of commercials about doing the right thing. I’m sure you have probably seen them, where people see others doing good deeds and pass on the goodness. I really like them and today I feel like I was seeing, doing and receiving the right thing while out running errands.
This morning at Aldi, I realized I was not carrying a quarter*, so I walked inside hoping to find a customer willing to help me out. My first attempt failed, then I approached a nice older man placing some crackers into his suitcase on wheels* that he had open in his cart. After charades and pointing, we exchanged coinage and I was able to get my cart. He was absolutely smitten with Haven. Everytime we crossed paths in the store he would grin and sing song something to her. When we arrived at the checkout line, he was behind me and with some more hand gestures and charades offered to help me unload my cart onto the conveyer belt. I thought about asking for his number so we could coordinate shopping trips.
Then, while I was packing up my groceries, I noticed a woman attempting to bag all of her groceries in the three bags she brought. I just happened to have a stash of my own that I didn’t need, so I offered them to her and she graciously accepted. On the drive home, I watched as a car in a hurry refused to let a woman in a wheelchair cross in the pedestrian crosswalk. Being next in line at the stop sign, I stopped, waved the woman across, where she smiled and mouthed “thank you” as she went along her way.
When was the last time you did the right thing?
* Explanation taken directly from Aldi’s website:
Why do I need a quarter to use a shopping cart at ALDI?
At ALDI, we cut costs every way we can to keep prices low. Our shopping cart deposit system is a good example. You insert a quarter to release a cart. When you return the cart, you get your quarter back. This system cuts down on the labor of collecting carts left in the parking lot, damage to cars, and we pass the savings on to you.
Why do you charge for shopping bags?
We don’t hide the cost of bags in our prices like other stores do. You can bring your own bags, or buy our paper, plastic, or insulated bags for a very nominal charge. Of course, we encourage you to reuse and recycle bags.
In addition to all of the “green” you save at ALDI, you’ll be doing your part to save our planet by shopping here. Our smaller, energy-saving stores, recycled bags and cartons all contribute to conservation.
Loyal ALDI shoppers appreciate our simplified shopping process, and the pride they can feel by being responsible and forward-thinking consumers. You’ll feel it too, when you start saving up to 50% on everyday needs and find that it is “easy being green.”