The Kindness of Hiding a Kind Heart

(Approx. 1,300 characters)

Showing kindness is difficult.
Or rather, subtle kindness is difficult.


September 30th.
I went to the supermarket to do some shopping.
The stores were crowded at the end of September due to price hikes on over 6,000 items from major manufacturers starting in October. When I went to a distant supermarket I don't usually visit, the shelves for canned goods were noticeably empty.
As expected, there was a line at the supermarket checkout in the early afternoon.

And when I lined up at the register after choosing items that I could also stock up on at a nearby supermarket, the clerk seemed fed up with the line. Even though there were eight registers, every line was packed with people.

Having worked at a convenience store and experienced the back-end of a supermarket (making side dishes), I can imagine how stressful it is to have so many customers.

Moreover, current registers have a mix of customers paying with cashless methods and cash. The supermarket where I shop in the evening has introduced over 10 types of cashless payments, point cards, and even stamp cards.

That is why I always place items in my shopping basket so that the barcodes are visible.

You don't need to do this for just two or three items, but when buying more than that, I highly recommend the "Barcode Visibility Grand Strategy."
It improves the clerk's work efficiency and shortens my own shopping time as well.

When you keep the product barcodes facing up, the clerks are very kind in their response.

Not only do they say, "We look forward to seeing you again," but some even give me extra of the larger, high-quality plastic bags reserved for the register.

Well, that's not why I do it, but... it's definitely not... (sweat)

I want to shop in a good mood. A little bit of consideration and a smile can make both the shop staff and myself feel comfortable.

I understand that when you're tired, you can't always smile.
But I think anyone can turn the orientation of their items so the barcodes are visible after getting in line.

My grandmother once said something while she was still alive.


Become a person who forgives others, she said.
No matter how long you spend together, even with someone you love dearly, there will always be parts of them you dislike. Everyone makes mistakes, and there are times when they can't get through a situation without telling a lie, but you must not blame them for that desperate feeling.
She told me that even in a situation like a fight, I should suppress the urge to blame them and treat them with kindness instead.


Sometimes you are lied to, or hear harsh words.
But if you don't pursue it and just settle it by saying, "I understand," your human relationships will not fall apart.

The worst thing you can do is bring up past events to blame someone.
People who blame others for things that have already passed and cannot be undone seem unable to maintain a proper distance from others, and their conversations have no clear conclusion.


I have a hard time because I cannot avoid having contact with people who do this.

I have friends who will just listen without saying anything, or who will wait for me.

When I am asked for a reason and it is difficult to explain,
they accept what I say even when I can't express it well.

A kind heart is hard to understand because it doesn't have a physical form, but for those who keep it hidden,
I want to see them again.


I want to possess a kindness that doesn't need to be spoken or shown.

Whether it is visible kindness or invisible kindness, there is no loss in possessing it.