I finally stopped counting the items in my cart while waiting in line

For a long time, I would stand there and silently count every single thing in my cart, then count the items in the carts of the people ahead of me, trying to guess who would be faster. It was a nervous habit. I changed about six months ago after a cashier in Toledo, Ohio, saw me doing it and just smiled and said, 'You know, it all moves at the same speed.' That simple comment made me realize how much mental energy I was wasting on something I couldn't control. Now, I just pick a spot on the floor to look at, or I'll quietly people-watch without the math. My wait feels shorter because I'm not focused on the clock. Has anyone else found a small trick that made waiting in line less annoying?

3 comments

3 Comments

amy_sanchez3mo ago

My buddy used to do the same thing with counting items, it drove him nuts. He started playing this dumb game where he tries to guess what song is stuck in the cashier's head just by their vibe. He says he's never right, but it makes the time fly by because he's making up a whole story about their day instead of watching the belt.

simon_sanchez583mo ago

Guess the cashier's song and you might unlock their secret grocery store lore.

adams.henry12d ago

That bit about "making up a whole story about their day" really got me... I used to think that kind of stuff was a waste of time, just standing there staring at the belt. But I tried it once on a grumpy cashier and ended up convincing myself she was a retired rock star who took the job just to people watch. It actually made me smile and she gave me this tiny smirk back, like she knew what I was doing. Now I'm hooked on guessing songs and building little lives for people in line, it's way better than checking my phone for the fifth time.