Selflessness

I have a theory about selflessness, and it is illustrated through grocery carts.

Grocery carts are the manifestation of whether we're willing to do what's right when there is no consequence to us. You can either return the grocery cart to its proper zone, or leave it in the parking lot, because who cares?

The local, family-owned grocery store by my house where I stop almost daily is the classic example. The parking lot is only 3 rows. It's not that far from your car to where the carts are lined up. Still, every time I pull in, there are always a bunch of carts hanging out by the parking spaces.

I judge people who elect to not return the carts to the store. Selfish assholes. I can't help but assume these are the same people who refuse to wear masks.

Fuck the rest a y'all. I got mine.

When I was a junior and senior in high school, I used to babysit the two little girls of a couple who were originally from Norway. The Gotthardts were the best family. I loved them all so much. The dad was an avid runner who believed in what he called "futzing time" for things like re-org'ing your shoes, and the mom was the epitome of a strong, professional woman.

The family lived about 30 minutes from me in the neighboring town, but I didn't have a car (or even a drivers license) so I regularly spent time alone in the car with either the mom or the dad. In one of those rides with the dad, we got to talking about my college plans, scholarship opportunities, federal grants. He said to me, "If you don't have enough money for college, you let me know. I don't ever want to see a bright young person denied an education because they couldn't afford it."

I never took him up on the offer, but it meant THE WORLD to me then and does to this day. That someone would put themselves out there for me with no apparent benefit to them. He knew he could pay for my college and still have time to save for his own young girls. What a beautiful, selfless act.

I feel like the Gotthardts always return their carts to the designated areas.