As I wheel my cart up to check out at the grocery store, there’s only one cashier open, and there are two people already in line. A few of the eight self-checkout registers are in use, but there are some available. I walk past them and take my place in the cashier’s lane – it’s Zack, a teenager whose badge says he’s been working here “1 year.” I wait for Zack because I want that human presence, to feel I’m part of a community of people connected to and responsible for each other.

Here’s one simple thing we can all do to stay human, love our neighbor, and build community.