COLUMN: Bumper Stickers Lie!!

The Day I Lost My Faith In Humanity…….Over A Dog Coat!

An OPINION By: Johanna Elattar

We live in a world where everyone’s constantly connected—except when it comes to kindness. Kindness seems to be that thing we all post about but don’t actually practice nearly as much as we should. Every day, we pass people, give a quick nod or a half-hearted “hey,” and keep walking. But when was the last time someone really went out of their way to be kind? (And no, holding the door open for two seconds while still scrolling TikTok doesn’t count.)

The other day, I found myself in a situation that made me wonder if basic decency had been discontinued. I was at the local supermarket—on a day so cold it felt like Mother Nature had a personal vendetta against my face. We’re talking below 20 degrees, wind sharp enough to cut through my coat, and the kind of weather that makes you rethink every life choice that led you outside. I had already paid for my groceries and was standing near the door with my cart full of food, ready to make my escape. But I needed two more things: a coat for my dog, Daisy, and a heating pad for my cat, who had been sick. Simple enough, right? Quick in, quick out.

I left my cart near the door, braved the Arctic tundra that is the frozen foods aisle, grabbed my two things, and returned to checkout—only to find a man in front of me with a cart so full it looked like he was prepping for an apocalypse. Now, I get it, everyone has errands. But I had only two items, and my bus was about to arrive. If I missed it, I’d have to wait in that icy wind for another one, and I really needed to get back to work. So, I politely asked if I could jump ahead. I wasn’t expecting a parade in my honor, just a quick, “Sure, go ahead.”

Instead, I got a hard “No.” No hesitation, no consideration, no “Oh, sorry, I’m in a rush too.” Just a cold, firm rejection that matched the weather outside.

Now, I’m not saying I was in desperate need. I wasn’t clutching a gallon of milk while sobbing about my starving children. I just wanted to buy a coat for my dog—who, by the way, would probably show more kindness in her sleep than this man did while fully awake. And it wasn’t like he was wrangling three kids or trying to keep a toddler from launching themselves into a cereal display. It was just him and his wife, both in their early 40s, no kids in sight. She was off picking up more items—which, honestly, would have been the perfect window for him to say, “Sure, go ahead.” But no.

And then, as if to sprinkle a little extra salt on the wound, he gestured toward the self-checkout, as if I’d somehow missed the glowing beacons of “please scan your items” flashing nearby. I calmly explained, “I’m paying in cash, and those machines don’t take cash, only cards.” He shrugged and looked away, already back to pretending I didn’t exist.

At that point, I heard my bus pulling up outside, and I had to make a choice: wait in line and risk standing in the freezing cold for another 30 minutes or abandon my dog’s new winter wardrobe. With an internal sigh, I put the coat and heating pad on the counter and told the cashier I couldn’t keep my ride waiting. I walked out into the cold, watching my bus doors open like salvation itself, but the whole thing stuck with me.

Why? Because in that brief moment, I saw how easy it is for people to ignore each other’s needs. It was just a small thing, letting someone go ahead, but it would have cost him nothing. And yet, he chose inconvenience over kindness, indifference over basic decency.

And it affected me so much because I wouldn’t have even thought twice about letting someone else go ahead of me. Not because I think I’m some kind of saint, not because I expect others to be just like me, but because it’s just basic human decency. If you could help someone out in a small way, if you could make their life just a bit easier, wouldn’t you want the same done for you?

It seems like so many people now live by the mantra of “me, me, me, and I don’t care if the world burns.” That’s what got to me. Not the fact that I didn’t get my dog’s coat that day, but the realization that so many people simply don’t care about anyone but themselves.

And just to be clear—I’m not entitled. I don’t walk through life thinking the world and its people owe me something. They don’t. No one does. But I do believe that the world is made better, or worse, by the choices we make in these tiny, seemingly insignificant moments.

Oh, and here’s the ironic kicker: I had seen their car earlier in the parking lot while I was grabbing my cart. They had a bumper sticker that read, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” No, really. You can’t make this stuff up. The whole interaction felt like some cruel cosmic joke. It’s one thing to forget to practice what you preach, but these two weren’t even in the same zip code as their own advice.

I’ll admit, for a fleeting moment, I wished all their groceries would spoil on the way home. Not in a dramatic, life-ruining way—just enough for the milk to turn a little early, for the bread to get weirdly stale overnight. Just a small, poetic lesson from the universe.

But here’s the thing: These moments add up. It’s not just this one guy refusing to let me go ahead. It’s the driver who speeds past a pedestrian, the person who pretends not to hear when someone asks for help, the way we’ve all gotten just a little too comfortable with ignoring each other. Bit by bit, this turns into the world we live in—a place where kindness feels rare and indifference is the default.

And that’s the real problem. Because being human isn’t just about existing in a world filled with other people—it’s about how we treat each other while we’re here. It’s about those small, seemingly insignificant choices that shape the way we all move through life. Kindness isn’t just a nice idea to slap on a bumper sticker; it’s what makes life a little softer, a little warmer, a little more bearable.

We’re all just trying to get through the day. We all have our struggles, our rushed schedules, our own long lists of worries. But at the end of it all, what do we want to be remembered for? That we got through our to-do list? That we saved an extra two minutes in line? Or that, when given the chance, we chose to make someone else’s day just a little easier?

I get it. Life is hectic. We’re all wrapped up in our own stress, our own endless to-do lists. But a small moment of kindness can change everything for someone else. I’m not saying we should all drop what we’re doing and start giving out free hugs, but come on—letting someone with two items go ahead in line? That’s the lowest possible bar for human decency.

So next time you’re in line at the store, and someone asks if they can jump ahead because they’re in a hurry, don’t just shrug and point to the self-checkout. Maybe, just maybe, take a second to think about how you’d feel if you were in their position. And then, if it won’t ruin your day, let them go ahead.

Because trust me, the world is already cold enough. We don’t have to make it colder.

P.S.: I’m guessing they bought the car with that bumper sticker already on it and just never bothered to remove it. Figures!