first, there's the list-making. you have to determine what you need and what you want. or you can just go in cold: you'll know what you want when you get there. some of us only think ahead for the week-- short-term fixes--while some can plan ahead for years. then there's the temptations once you're shopping, what looks (and sometimes smells) appealing but you know it's not good for you. food like that usually goes straight to your hips. or just leaves you with a tummy ache and heartburn.
then, you have decide where to go. somewhere large that's well-stocked but the quality is questionable? perhaps a smaller, local market where you have to wear the right clothes and are judged by what you leave with? or maybe just a quick drop-by wherever is convenient? sometimes you just never know. or maybe you're the type that shops with a friend to make the trip more exciting. i prefer the solo excurisions, personally.
if you're like me, the excuses soon start piling up though. often, i decide to make the effort tomorrow. afterall, i can't starve the rest of my life. but, the day wears me down, i decide i'm too tired, i'm not in the right mindset to deal with people and options, so i decide to go another time. that's when you start making bad choices: you start grab-buying, anything sounds good enough, and sooner than later you start resenting grocery shopping even more.
eventually, you'll make it to the grocery store with list in hand (or head) and you begin. maybe you start at the produce section-- full of fresh choices and implied expiration dates. healthy carrots? no. refreshing cucumbers? no. tall celery? sure. so there you are, eyeing the celery. the newest stock is presented in the front; the older, been-around-a-while celery is moved to the back to either expire or be selected later by more forgiving eyes. maybe you look for a slim package, light-weight but all you really need. or maybe you prefer stockier stems. but, be careful which one you choose. i mean, you can walk around with celery for a while, give it a good squeeze before deciding it's not really right for you. you might release it where it doesn't quite fit in (perhaps the scattered bulk foods, or the domestic cake-decorating aisle) or your good heart will let it down gently and place it back in its home--unspoiled and hopeful for another chance to be a shopper's desire. and despite the cruelty, you can leave it at the checkout stand, just seconds away from true commitment before your credit card seals the deal. however, it's just cruel to take it home and then bring it back-- it may never resell, since other shoppers will prefer new products in case yours has been "damaged."
there are times i return home from grocery shopping with seemingly nothing for all my efforts. other times, i end up with way more than i expected. sometimes everything was just perfect and you don't have to go grocery shopping for a while; sometimes you have to make room; sometimes you forgot something really important. i am often frustrated. i envy other shoppers for their efficiency and ability to find exactly what they're looking for. i am often discouraged, leave the grocery store grumpy and unsatisfied to head home and bask in what little i have from past experiences (leftover tidbits or remnants from a fancy appetizer). i wonder what other people think of grocery shopping, how often and when they find time and energy. perhaps this is why i rarely go, prefering instead the short and sporadic attempts at nutrition and sustenance.
i hate grocery shopping.
aren't there better things to do instead?
