Trader Joe’s
It is honestly a surprise I have not talked about the PEOPLE at Trader Joe's. No matter where you go, what state you are in, the PEOPLE who work at Trader Joe's share a sort of LOVE with the world that I rarely see anywhere else.
I visit Trader Joe's once a week … at least. And I have since I was very young. It is such a staple in my home that I flounder when I shop at other grocery stores. Every week I grab my groceries and a cheery cashier rings up my items and sends me on my way. It is truly a highlight of my week. What is so wonderful about the LOVE the Trader Joe's workers share is that it is always in the little comments.
"Oh I love this sauce, have you tried it over pasta?"
"Are you excited about the pumpkin toaster waffles we get in next week?"
"The XO gummies ran out just before you came here!"
So many little observations and comments about the food you are buying that make you feel like they are really thinking about the food you buy and why you buy it. It is so engaging!
This last week, I was shopping as I usually do. The cashier began his conversation with me by making puns off of each produce item he rung up. It was like he had been practicing all day and was just dying to share them all! I chuckled at each one, especially when he told me, "I cantaloupe with you because I'm already married!" The interaction was like any other time at Trader Joe's: light and happy.
But then as he read me my total, he reached over to grab some dark chocolate peanut butter cups and handed them to me with my receipt. All he said was, "Congratulations! You should celebrate too even though they are not here yet. Happy Mother's Day!" I was stunned.
I didn't know he noticed I was pregnant. I didn't plan on celebrating this Mother's Day for myself. In fact, I planned on celebrating it as my last Mother's Day where I just celebrated my mom. I didn't expect a gift or such a sweet comment after all the produce puns. But in that moment, I felt so LOVEd and seen. Again, I was reminded that LOVE is best exchanged in the small moments between PEOPLE. And I was reinforced in my experience that the PEOPLE at Trader Joe's LOVE in such a rare way because they LOVE in the little, small comments and exchanges we have every week of our lives.
When was the last time you felt seen in a small moment?
