Invisible Acts of Kindness

 IG has been living life in another country as an invisible American. That is by choice, at least as long as 45 calls himself President. Living abroad allows IG to have an "outside looking in" perspective. Americans have become the butt of a wide-range of well-deserved jokes. IG has seen the deep respect for America, established by those that we refer to as the greatest generation, quickly erode. IG wonders if there will ever be another generation that can restore the damage wrought by a privileged, uninformed, and narcissistic pedagogy. 

Today, after a much-needed run and a walk through the public market, IG stopped at the grocery store for a few more items. This store has low prices on staples and has no pretention of being the "in" place to shop. But it is walkable from home and IG has been experimenting with a carless life whenever possible.  She came prepared as the low prices means the store only accepts cash and debit cards, no credit allowed. That reminds IG that there was a time when that was the gold standard, known as pay-as-you-go. That was before the banks and credit companies made us believe that a credit card was a badge of prestige. Today, IG wonders how many are enslaved to their credit cards, in perpetual  bondage, duped by a spend-easy branding campaign that promises the life of the rich and famous with just a simple swipe of your card.

As IG waited for her turn at the cashier, she passed the time by looking at what other people were purchasing. You can tell a lot by one's groceries. For example, no meat and leafy greens with rice crackers -- vegan, gluten-free. Chips, salsa, cheese and avocados -- fixings for a summer party. The young woman in front of IG sported a yoga mat on her back and was purchasing a smattering of healthy ingredients: nuts, avocados, fruit; no more than can fit in her backpack -- bicyclist, raw food enthusiast. When she swipes her card for purchase it is followed by a low honking beep, the telltale sign that something is wrong. IG hears the cashier explain to the yoga mat woman that her card won't work unless it is a debit card. She tries another card and the same honking beep repeats. She looks panicked and begins to abandon the groceries on the conveyor belt. IG can see the yoga woman is embarassed. She doesn't have a debit card, and who carries cash anymore? Especially in this country where the currency is made out of plastic and isn't deemed earth-friendly.

IG looks at the cashier screen and scans the total due for the yoga woman's groceries. IG has been in this situation before. When you go to a new country, things work differently and for IG this country's banking rules rendered her creditless for her first year. She had many experiences that brought her to her knees. Instinctfully, IG takes her debit card and taps it on the chip reader. She calls to the young woman and lets her know that her groceries are paid. The yoga woman cannot believe it, somehow this kind of mindfulness outside of the yoga studio is new. The cashier is also in disbelief and the person behind IG keeps saying, "That is the nicest thing I think I’ve ever witnessed."  IG thinks that would be sad, if it were true.  The yoga-mat woman keeps asking IG for her contact information so she can pay her back. The total for the amount of groceries that will fit in a backpack is not large. IG declines and says the best payback would be if she would do something kind for someone else. That would be be the best form of gratitude. 

IG has had many people show kindness to her, even after they discover that she is an American. They feel compelled to tell her what they think about 45 and ask her what has happened to America. As IG walks home, she hopes that she might be part of the generation that will change the perception of Americans both within the country and abroad. She thinks that it might be time for Americans to show, not tell, that civility still exists — through one invisible kindness after another. 

#kindness #expatriate #grocerycheckout