Ever since I could remember, grocery stores have always been a place of comfort and entertainment. Whether it was walking up and down every aisle, or riding around in the shopping carts, grocery stores bring complete joy into my life, as they represent a place completely devoid of responsibility or hardship.

Now, I know a lot of people may be thinking back in horror to all of the times they were forced to stop at Walmart with their parents to run some errands, their parents promising them that it would only take “10 minutes”, only to realize that the sun has gone down and that you’ve been tricked once again into entering the treacherous “grocery shopping spree” with mom and dad.I was the kid who enjoyed these pit stops on the way home from some outing or event.

1. Grocery shopping means restocking on all of your favorite snacks and meals

I mean come on, you can’t argue with the wonders of finding your favorite chocolate bar.

2. There’s a strange sort of satisfaction from the categorical organization of products

Aren’t you glad that all of the spices are conveniently placed along one aisle, as well as clearly marked for shoppers?

3. Free samples

It’s free food! Who doesn’t love the taste of an unknown brand of cracker with some random new dip on it?

4. It’s a great place to take your mind off of things

Seriously, it’s like you’re walking into a whole new world, free from stress and problems. All you have to focus on is that small piece of paper you’re holding, listing all the items you need to grab before heading out.

5. The mindless wandering from aisle to aisle

It’s therapeutic, I’m telling you.

6. The sense of accomplishment once all of the groceries have been collected and bought

Sure, you may have graduated at the top of your class or invented the flying car, but nothing beats the sense of accomplishment one gets from checking off every box on that grocery list.

7. Time standing still

Have you ever noticed that time just seems to not exist in any grocery store? Once you enter the building, it’s like you’ve been transported into a new world that seems to completely stand still. Granted, for those of you who could feel every second being drawn out when going to the store with your parents, this may not apply to you. But for all of those who would choose your neighborhood Walmart as your “favorite place of choice”, you know what I’m talking about.

8. The sound of children whining for an unhealthy snack

To which you hear Janice, the local neighborhood PTA mom who always needs to speak to the manager, tell her son that peas taste better than candy and that if Chad ever wants to get into an Ivy League school, he needs to “watch what he puts in his body” for his body is his temple. You go Janice.

Well, if that last one doesn’t make you a die-hard supermarket fan, then there’s nothing more I can say to make you change your mind.

Because I’ve lived in multiple countries, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing a wide variety of grocery stores, namely Sultan Market, Alosra, Danube, Carrefour, and Manuel Market. While none of them displayed the same wealth of options at grocery stores in the USA, each one had genuine character, and that’s what matters. It’s not about what’s on the inside of the stores, it’s what they look like. Remember that kids.