Yesterday I went to this store called Trader Joe's. I had never been in there so I asked a woman outside, friendly lady :) ... if she thought they had any cat food/litter inside. She said she wasn't sure but probably.
I asked her what kind of store it was and she told me it was a food store ... I ran into her all throughout the store and we chatted. That happens a lot when you go food shopping, ever notice that? The people you go in with you usually see in the same isles over and over again. Makes for good conversation if you're open to it. I always am, I like to play with people.
Anyway, I go in ... and it's set up like this "perfect" little country store. And I mean "perfect" Just what you needed and some specialty items here and there. They did have cat food but not a big variety, and some new fangled kind of cat litter there that's amazing. I've never seen it before but based on how it's working, I'm going to get it some more. You can even use it later in a mulch bed. (or something like that.... lol)
Now... I have to tell you... that as I walked around this store, in it's little "general store" set up ... I was happy as a clam. I "almost" expected to walk out side and be in a country setting... instead of the hot parking lot and back to reality. (That's just a shame isn't it?)
I was talking to people, laughing, kidding around, just having a grand old time... amusing the devil out of myself.
Course, as always because I see things ... people looked at me funny and the check out girl looked at the checkout guy I was working with and gave him "one of those looks" like... who IS this woman? (No, trust me, it was about me. Shame we're not used to happy people right? Speculation, I know.)
The registers were these little cute thingy's ... and the guy I had was really nice ... and he humored me and answered my plethura of questions and stuff ... I'm very curious about things and when I'm excited it shows. And why not? Huh?
SO! What is my point anyway... Being in this environment, and having it resemble something I love ... like a general store ... which would be in the country and filled with small town people (although it wasn't) shifted my mood... I was happy, and talkative, and just thrilled to death over how comfortable the place felt to me.
Goes to associating places with feelings/emotions.
When I'm in the country, in a little general store, with little items to chose from and not in one of those HUGE buy all here places... I feel more at home. I LIKE the country idea of it. Because I like the country.
Thus, you have my being so friendly, I am usually anyway but... so relaxed and feeling so good, because it's my favorite type of place to be in . That and an antique shop. Love those...
So, here is my question for all of you.
How many of you, pay attention to what makes you feel really good... and identify with it?
Me? I plan on going back there even if it's just for a cookie...
Think about it... then let me know.
You KNOW you're going to do it... but you still ask others for their opinion
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10 comments:
The feeling you got there is probably like the feeling I get when I go to Barnes & Noble. Just makes you feel happy and special. Course, if you buy a cookie, I want one also! :-)
LOL course you want a cookie. I heard you the other day on the phone saying, Oooh no cookie? :)
I like cookies :-D
Yes, I know :)
I grew up in TN and love the feeling of a small town store. You can get that in Sedona but not the same as I remember in the small town with a country square. Cookies..depends on if it's healthy?? Now days I tend to eat healthy snacks...but do love sunsets, and my environment does affect my mood and how I feel.
Annie
Great post, Sue! I think more people could be happy if they were more aware of what makes them feel good and made a conscious effort to have more of that in their lives.
I feel good when I go for an early morning walk - unfortunately it's hard to remember that when I'm lying in my comfy bed!
You are right, Sue. Environment does make a difference. I light a lamp and burn incense sticks at twilight as it brings back childhood memories, though it is a religious practice.
(Reached her through Facebook. Thanks to Mitch) :-)
Hello Ladies :) I'm sorry I haven't responded sooner. I've had a big case of the bizzies lately. Shouldn't a clock have more minutes on it?
Hey Annie, I love small towns and all their charm. I love the musty antique stores, the wood floors, the smells and the fresh air when you go outside into the country side. I feel so much better in those envirnonments. I've never been to TN, it sounds beautiful.
Hey Janet, where do we know one another from? It could be Ryze... I apologize, my mind has a memory window :) that doesn't serve me well sometimes. Were you in the Testosterone something network there? LOL ... yah I went for a nice walk with my daughter this weekend, we went a couple miles. I was sore from that but it was so relaxing. Then you wonder why you don't just get up and go (or get out of bed). Especially when it's so worth it afterwards.
Hi Bindu... I love lamps. I have a lamp on top of my fridge that I use for power outages. I should use it other times too. That's a good idea. What is the purpose of the incense exactly?
Hi Sue,
I just found this blog by following a link off of Mitch's blog.
I've never been to Trader Joe's, but your description of the store and your experience there reminds me strongly of a small country store that was once located south of Atlanta.
In the early 1970s, I worked for a company that was paving the roads and pouring the concrete curb and gutters for a new town called Peachtree City, GA.
Every day, we'd drive from south Atlanta to the job, and at some point we stopped at a small country store to buy some snacks for lunch.
Some days, I drove a dump truck and made several trips back and forth.
You can imagine the creaky hardwood floors, shelves stacked to the ceilings with dry goods, some hardware, canned foods, soft drinks and so forth.
What set this store apart from other similar stores was a small counter where they made simple sandwiches on sliced white bread. Nothing fancy at all.
However, they had these big wheels of cheese, including some of the best cheddar I've ever tasted. Even on days when we weren't interested in buying anything, we'd stop in and chat a few minutes with the owners. On the days we were hungry, we'd buy snacks, sandwiches, or maybe just a nice slice of great cheese.
It's been over 35 years, and I can still picture myself in that store, in the cool shade with a breeze offering a short respite from the hot summer day. A few minutes of friendly chatting, a slice of cheese, and maybe a dill pickle from the large barrel of pickles, and I was ready to go back out into the hot day and get back to work.
Now, I live in the mountains of western North Carolina, and I get a similar feeling of well-being whenever I walk beside a river or gaze out across the lakes looking at the mountains. It's not exactly joy or happiness, but is definitely a feeling of satisfaction and appreciation.
Just wanted to share with you. Thanks for reminding me.
Act on your dream!
JD
Hello John, I'd like some cheeze please :) ... this sounds really wonderful.
You reminded me of (in a good way, you'll see) when my dad passed away in 1989. I was in the Florida Keys and there's this big bridge there called the 7 mile bridge. And I got up one morning and I took a drive from his house. Had the radio on ... no place in particular to go, except to deal with estate matters when I got back to the house. Mongrel estate whores who came early to wipe you clean ... they really do exist you know. Nasty beasts.
Anyway... I remember getting a cup of coffee and just driving all the way across this bridge and then I turned around and drove all the way back. Windows open... lost in thought, sad ... but ... free. Not from my dad... but driving's always been a great repreave from life for me. I enjoyed that drive so much ... I almost considered living there. I'm glad I didn't... I would have been just trying to escape life at that point. But ... it was a great drive... sunny, bright, nice light ocean breeze filtering through the car ... my dad's eldorado no less. He sure loved his Cadillacs. What a shame he never enjoyed his retirement...
I love palm trees too. There are pictures all over my house of them. I couldn't figure out why I was so drawn to them, and then I realized as much as I love a quaint country store... the palm trees represent freedom to me. I thought that was very interesting considering where it must have come from...
:) Thanx for sharing John and the memory you just reminded me of as well.
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