Last week, I was at the grocery store parking lot when it started pouring. I had just loaded my bags into the car, and my instinct was to just leave the cart there and make a run for it. But I didn’t. I walked that cart back to the return area, got absolutely soaked, and felt a little ridiculous doing it.
Later that evening, I told my husband Matias about it over dinner. He laughed and said, “That’s so you.” He wasn’t wrong. I’ve been returning shopping carts for as long as I can remember, rain or shine, even when no one’s watching.
It got me thinking about why some people do it and others don’t. Turns out, psychologists have studied this exact behavior, and they’ve found that people who return their carts, especially in less-than-ideal conditions, tend to share some really admirable qualities.
Here’s what returning your shopping cart says about you.
1. You have a strong sense of personal responsibility
Returning a shopping cart is one of those small acts that nobody enforces. There’s no penalty if you don’t do it, and there’s no reward if you do. It’s completely up to you.
When you return it anyway, especially in the rain, you’re showing that you take responsibility for your actions without needing external motivation. You’re not doing it because someone’s watching or because you’ll get in trouble. You’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do.
This kind of personal accountability usually shows up in other areas of your life too. You probably follow through on commitments, own up to mistakes, and don’t wait for others to clean up after you. It’s a quiet form of integrity that doesn’t need applause.
2. You think beyond yourself
When you leave a cart in a parking spot, someone else has to deal with it. Maybe it’s the employee who has to gather all the scattered carts in the rain. Maybe it’s another shopper who can’t park because your cart is blocking the space. Maybe it’s someone whose car gets dinged because the wind pushed your cart into it.
Returning your cart shows you’re aware of how your actions affect others. You’re thinking about the person who comes after you, even if you’ll never meet them.
This kind of consideration tends to carry over. You probably hold doors open, pick up things people drop, and try not to make life harder for others when you don’t have to. You understand that small acts of thoughtfulness add up.
3. You have strong self-discipline
Let’s be honest, walking a cart back when it’s raining is uncomfortable. You’re wet, you’re cold, you just want to get in your car and go home. Every part of you is saying, “Just leave it.”
But you don’t. You choose the harder option because it’s the better one.
Self-control is like a muscle that gets stronger with practice. Every time you do the right thing when it’s inconvenient, you’re building that muscle. Returning a shopping cart is one of those tiny reps.
People with self-discipline make better long-term decisions. They save money instead of impulse spending, stick to their goals even when motivation fades, and show up even when they don’t feel like it. The shopping cart is just one small indicator of a much bigger pattern.
4. You respect other people’s work
I grew up watching my parents work really hard to give us a good life. My mom would come home exhausted, and I learned early on that making someone’s job harder than it needs to be isn’t kind.
When you return your cart, you’re respecting the work of the people who have to collect them. You’re acknowledging that their time and energy matter. You’re making their job just a little bit easier, and that’s a form of respect.
This usually shows up in how you treat service workers in general. You probably say thank you to your barista, don’t leave a mess at restaurants, and treat people with basic decency regardless of their job title. You see people as people, not just as functions.
5. You follow through even when no one is looking
There’s a concept in psychology called moral consistency. It’s the idea that people who do the right thing in private tend to do the right thing in public too. Your values don’t shift based on who’s around.
Returning your cart in the rain, when no one’s there to see it or praise you for it, shows that your actions are driven by internal values rather than external validation. You’re not performing goodness. You’re just being good.
This is backed by experts like psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg, who studied moral development and found that people at higher levels of moral reasoning act according to their principles regardless of consequences or social approval.
In other relationships and responsibilities, you’re probably reliable. You keep promises even when it’s inconvenient. You do what you said you’d do. People can count on you because your word actually means something.
6. You care about shared spaces
Parking lots are shared spaces. So are sidewalks, parks, beaches, and basically anywhere the public gathers. When you return your cart, you’re showing that you care about keeping these spaces functional and pleasant for everyone.
You’re contributing to a system that works better when people participate. You’re doing your small part to maintain order without being asked.
In São Paulo, I see this play out in different ways. Some people throw trash on the street, others pick it up even when it’s not theirs. Some let their dogs mess up the sidewalk, others clean up after them. The people who care about shared spaces make cities more livable for everyone.
You probably extend this care to other communal areas too. You clean up after yourself at the gym, don’t hog public seating, and generally try to leave things better than you found them.
7. You understand that small actions matter
One shopping cart doesn’t seem like a big deal. But when thousands of people make that same choice, it creates chaos. Parking lots become cluttered, cars get damaged, employees spend hours gathering carts instead of doing other tasks.
You get that individual actions scale. You understand that culture is built one small choice at a time, and you’re choosing to contribute positively even when your single action feels insignificant.
This perspective usually means you’re thoughtful about other small choices too. You vote in local elections. You recycle. You tip fairly. You show up on time. You know that systems only work when people do their part, and you’re willing to do yours.
Final thoughts
I know it seems silly to read this much into a shopping cart. But the truth is, our small behaviors reveal a lot about who we are.
Returning your cart in the rain doesn’t make you a hero. But it does show that you’re someone with integrity, consideration, and self-discipline. You’re someone who thinks about others, respects people’s work, and follows through even when it’s inconvenient.
These aren’t flashy qualities. They won’t get you a medal or make headlines. But they’re the foundation of a good life and a decent society. They’re the difference between someone people can rely on and someone they can’t.
So the next time it’s pouring and you’re debating whether to return that cart, remember what it says about you. And maybe get a little wet.
