Making the world a better place, one beer at a time (JEFF EDELSTEIN COLUMN)

I was at Wegman’s the other day, and I had three items: A hunk of fresh mozzerella, some prosciutto, and a six-pack of beer. Sierra Nevada summer lager, to be precise.

Anyway, I get in line, and there’s a dude in front of me. Little older, looked a little hippie/cool. He has probably 30 items, and says to me, “That’s all you got? You can go in front.” Great gesture. Costs nothing to be nice, right? Of course I thanked him.

As I was checking out, I noticed he had a nice bottle of anejo tequila. So … I grabbed a beer from my sixer, put it in his cart, and said, “Here’s a chaser for ya.” He laughed, accepted it, thanked me, and we went on with our lives.

Now imagine if this was how we all operated. All day, every day. Little kindnesses, one after the other. A world where we’re all looking out for each other, even in the tiniest ways.

Picture this science fiction-like scenario: You’re stuck in traffic. Guy wants to merge. You let him in. He gives you the wave. You both feel good. Cost? Zero.

Or you’re walking down the street. Someone drops their keys. You pick ’em up, hand ’em over. They smile. You smile. World’s a little brighter. Price tag? Zilch.

At work, your work mate is swamped. You grab them a coffee. They’re grateful. You feel like a million bucks. Expense? A couple bucks, tops.

Think about it. These moments, they add up. They create a ripple effect. You do something nice, the recipient feels good, they pass it on. Before you know it, we’ve got a tidal wave of decency washing over us.

And it’s not just about the big stuff. Sure, donating to charity, volunteering, that’s all great. But it’s these everyday interactions that really shape our world. The small stuff. The stuff we can all do, right now, no special skills required. And cheap!

It’s holding the door open. It’s letting someone with one item go ahead in line. It’s smiling at a stranger. It’s saying “thank you” to the cashier. It’s remembering your neighbor’s name.

These things, they matter. They make people feel seen, appreciated, valued. In a world that can often feel cold and indifferent — and increasingly so, dont’cha think? — they’re like little bursts of sunshine.

And here’s the kicker: It doesn’t just make the other person feel good. It makes you feel good too. There’s science behind this. Acts of kindness release oxytocin in our brains. That’s the feel-good hormone. So by being nice, we’re literally making ourselves happier.

Now, I’m not saying this is going to solve all the world’s problems. Duh. But imagine facing those problems in a world where everyone’s just a little bit kinder, a little more considerate, a little more human.

It’s not hard to do. It doesn’t take much time. It doesn’t cost much, if anything. But the payoff? It’s huge. It’s a better mood, better relationships, better communities.

So next time you’re out and about, look for those opportunities. They’re everywhere. A kind word here, a small gesture there. It might not seem like much in the moment, but add it all up, and we’re talking about a revolution.

And who knows? Maybe the next time you’re in line at the grocery store, someone will let you go ahead. And maybe you’ll have a beer to spare. And just like that, the world gets a little bit better. One six-pack at a time.