The Supermarket Optimist

The local supermarket is an adventure best undertaken with optimism.

Going to the supermarket triggers my inner optimist. Every time those automatic supermarket doors swing open, I anticipate a shopping experience memorably devoid of frustration, annoyance or embarrassment. I further envision departing the store with healthy foodstuffs, solid meal plans and money left over from the weekly grocery budget.

There is no more inglorious beginning for a shopping trip than having to wrest two entwined carts apart like a referee separating a pair of prizefighters. My inner optimist merely nods when my magic touch easily liberates my chosen cart from the mechanical grasp of its fellows. I enter the store with full confidence that the conveyance will roll in perfectly straight alignment with all four wheels touching the floor at the same time, without a single squeak or squeal of protest.

A Feast for the Senses

I first meander along the undisciplined pathway of the produce department. Pyramids of cascading vegetables and mounds of lush fruits ensnare my senses. The mastermind who designed the produce section is clearly a sensory marketing genius who targeted my customer profile. I drink in the bright colors, inhale the fresh smells and feel the gentle mists that caress my face (from the conveniently placed sprayers that add extra water to my priced-by-the-pound leafy greens). By the time I exit the department, my cart boasts an ambitious array of vegetation that I wholeheartedly believe my family will eat. Everyone loves kohlrabi, right?

Checking items off my list as I wheel through the store, I revel in these moments of uninterrupted time. When I inevitably run into an acquaintance or five, I happily chat for what I know will only be a few moments. Thankfully, the unwritten rule for a supermarket tête-à-tête forbids remarking on either my wardrobe or shopping cart content. No true friend would comment that I really needed the acne cream I was purchasing anyway.

To my discredit, I admit to losing focus in the bakery department. I may only be in pursuit of a loaf of bread, but all those gourmet desserts lined up in the display case seduce me from my best intentions. Shopping list forgotten, I stand there and salivate like Charlie Bucket at the gates of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. But my inner optimist encourages me back to reality with a whisper that surely one little cannoli will not break the bank…and maybe a chocolate glazed donut or two.

Optimism Springs Eternal at Checkout

As I approach the checkout, I know that whichever line I join will proceed faster than any of the others. Customers ahead of me will have stowed their cell phones in order to concentrate on the transaction. The cashier will be able to differentiate between a cucumber and a zucchini and enter the appropriate code. Every item will scan at the correct price on the first try, and no packages will break open and need to be replaced. Certainly nobody will write a check. Or use coupons.

When it’s my turn, I confidently reach into the cart for my recyclable grocery bags. I find them easily because, of course, I remembered to take them out of my car. The cashier intuitively understands the concepts of density, weight and gravity and packs each bag squarely so it remains upright throughout my journey home. Cleaning products and fresh foodstuffs never cohabitate in the same bag. And gum, mints and those all-important eyeglass repair kits remain on the shelf to lure some other impulsive shopper. Naturally, I am delighted but not surprised to ring out under budget.

I hope my adventures inspire you to listen to your own inner optimist on your next trip to the supermarket. Whether it’s a quick stop or an extended campaign, a positive attitude will always get you through the store quicker. But a chocolate glazed donut helps too. Happy shopping.