Why do we look for change?

Today I was walking past a newspaper stand and I noticed that the change return slot had coins inside. I was immediately happy because when I was a kid I often used to find change in payphones and cigarette machines. So why am I sharing this?

I find it strange that I would look for change now. A few coins don’t mean much now, but as a kid they were like finding gold. Why do we look for things that have very little value, and sometimes can even hurt us? It is interesting that we continue in actions that seem useful in the short-term but ultimately dangerous ways to cope long-term.

Would my attention that I had focused on finding that change be better spend paying attention to my friend? Was noticing that a way to disconnect from the conversation that I was having? Or maybe its just as simple as feeling it as a sign of being lucky. You can find ways to benefit from life, and also benefit others.