Grocery Store Lines

I always pick the wrong line at the grocery store. Always. I’m not sure what it is, but somehow I’m consistently behind someone counting out change or writing a check. Who even uses checks? Well, let me tell you that anachronistic form of paymentappears more often than you’d think. I look around and can see others effortlessly moving forward in line and then quickly out the door...and with a smile on their face. All the while, I panic watching someone decide if they should keep the third apple they picked, hoping for a healthy week ahead. 

When I first noticed this happening over and over, I used it as a way to practice patience. I was much younger and had a youthful disregard for time. Sometimes I would wonder about the customer’s life and their back story. I would see things I love around me and begin to take stock in them. Maybe, the person’s jacket was gorgeous, or something in the aisle for sale looked delicious, or perhaps I would start breathing to appreciate my breath. Maybe my life was less stressful then because thinking about this approach now sounds exhausting. 

Today when I queue up, my mind directly goes to negative thoughts. I need to be somewhere, or someone is waiting on me, and this person is ruining everyone’s day.  I have to calm myself down, and this takes a lot more work than it used to. I think about my parents and how seemingly small things would set them off, and now I understand that there was probably too much stress in their lives. And once the scale tips too far to one side, shit hits the fan. And now, someone taking a long time to check out in the grocery store quickly becomes a moment to question how you’ll ever make it home.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when you’re in these slow lines and someone begins complaining about it. No one wants to be in this position, so don’t make it worse. Misery loves company, but I don’t want that to be in that foxhole.. Sure, I get grumpy, but I’m not trying to drag others down with me. You are responsible for what you bring into the grocery store line. Are you choosing to be that negative person? If and when this inevitably happens, it triggers a whole new set of emotions for me. 

I’ve been a cashier and know that the majority of this falls on the customer. Sure, the clerk can cause things for this, but it’s usually the public’s fault. One of the best skills I acquired from working at a gas station was ending conversations quickly and politely. “Oh wow, that sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing that.” All with a massive smile on my face. AKA, we’re done here. 

I love to eat and cook, so grocery shopping is inescapable. I used to love wandering the aisles while listening to music and pretending I was in a music video. I would chat with the butchers about the recipe I was attempting and loved getting their advice. But you know what? My mental stability is rocky these days. And I often put off grocery shopping far too long, which results in me ordering out. And this means eating junk food that continues the cycle of me not feeling well. That is until I found the beauty of InstaCart.

I will admit I used to judge those that utilized this service. Do we hate doing everything these days? And here’s the deal: our world is changing so much that our habits will, too. Opening up an app on my phone while looking at the recipe is a game-changer for me. I was the queen of forgetting to write down all the necessary ingredients on my list, or worse, would try to wing it at the market and would come home pissed. Placing that order allows me to focus on other things as my time is thin these days. So I open that app with excitement and tip that driver at least 20%. I like to think its s a win for everyone involved. It has helped me eat at home more often with much better food. 

I still end up in long lines when I do venture out. But these are few and far between now and honestly doesn’t feel so life-threatening. It’s almost like remembering how angry it made me and  shows how far I’ve come. If there’s an app out there that makes your life easier, but you feel “lazy” when using it… Use it. That’s what it’s there for; its entire purpose is to make your life easier. You need to stop judging yourself and live your best life, and InstaCart can help with that.