Stores That Make You Smarter

Do you have a place that you walk into where you instantly feel like you're gaining brain cells? A place where you gain culture and possibly some take-out too?

For me, that worldly place is conveniently entitled World Market. I love this store! Whatever the reason, I suddenly feel more intelligent and a little classier as I browse the wine selection, touch the beautiful, wicker furniture and see the foreign foods and unique candy aisles. I could easily spend two hours in that place, or more.

One time I asked for an application to work there. My husband thought I was crazy. What?? I'd receive 30% off all merchandise. Plus, it might be fun to be employed in retail. I can picture myself restocking the wine shelves, sampling the exotic teas and arranging those cool toy items on display.

Other places that make me feel more grown up include most bookstores, like Books-A-Million, Borders and Barnes & Nobles. Just flipping through book titles and bestseller shelves heighten my senses. I want to become lost in the stories and characters. As I read new plots or biographies, I reflect back to my life and what I can learn from that tale. I will often sit on the floor and read a chapter (as long as the place isn't crowded or a clerk doesn't give me too many dirty looks).

Formerly coffee shops used to make me feel jazzier and sophisticated, but not so much anymore. Maybe the trendiness wore off. Maybe I just can't afford premium coffee. Or perhaps now, since I see Grandma Virginia in there enjoying her latte with her three-year old granddaughter Ava, it just doesn't feel the same. (Although I bet grandma could give me a history lesson, ;-)

I have also felt more interesting and innovative after reading a Sky Mall magazine on an airplane. I love those articles and listings in there! I have been so tempted to order from them but haven't quite done it yet. When I test out gadgets at Brookstone or Discovery shops, I feel more in tune with the technological world too, as goofy as that may sound.

I crave to learn. Living in a bubble is not for me. Although I'd love to fill my days and nights viewing art museums, seeing Broadway plays and visiting other cultural avenues, my pocketbook doesn't allow it at the moment. Also my full-time job, wife and motherly duties prevent me from doing these sort of activities for weeks or even months at a time.

So I improvise. For now, I settle for the local grocery store (food and math education), the zoo (animal history, evolution lesson), a trip to the shoe store (fashion 101, design) and well, you get the idea. In addition, I read the news online and research places, people and cultures. In my head, I begin to plan a trip that I may not take for several years. I look up new words and synonyms almost daily.

Any place or any thing may suit your needs to learn. You just have to be creative and make it work for you. Well any place except for perhaps reality TV! That's not education, that's just plain garbage (well, that's my opinion, anyway).

What stores or places make you feel smarter? Where you do escape to find culture?