Have you ever been walking down a busy street, lost in your own thoughts, when suddenly it hits you? The person rushing past you with a coffee in hand, the cyclist weaving through traffic, the child laughing on the sidewalk—each of them is living a life as vivid, complex, and nuanced as your own. This profound realization has a name: sonder.
Sonder is the awareness that every person you encounter has their own story, filled with joys, struggles, dreams, and fears. They are the main character in their own narrative, just as you are in yours. It’s a humbling and awe-inspiring thought, one that can shift how we see the world and interact with others.
In our fast-paced, often self-centered lives, it’s easy to forget this truth. We get caught up in our own routines, worries, and goals, seeing others as mere extras in the backdrop of our story. But sonder reminds us that everyone is the protagonist of their own journey. The stranger who cut you off in traffic might be rushing to a hospital. The barista who messed up your order could be juggling two jobs to support their family. The quiet coworker might be carrying a burden you know nothing about.
When we embrace sonder, we cultivate empathy and compassion. We start to see the world not as a stage for our own life, but as a tapestry of countless interconnected stories. It encourages us to be kinder, more patient, and more curious about the people around us. After all, every interaction is a chance to acknowledge the depth and humanity in someone else’s existence.
So the next time you’re out in the world, take a moment to pause and reflect on the lives unfolding around you. Notice the faces, the gestures, the fleeting moments that make up someone else’s day. Sonder is a reminder that we are all part of something bigger—a shared human experience that is as beautiful as it is complex.
Let’s carry this awareness with us, not just as a fleeting thought, but as a lens through which we see the world. Because in the end, sonder isn’t just about recognizing others; it’s about connecting with the profound truth that we are all, in our own way, beautifully and deeply human.
