Sondering

I find daily on this journey

It never is too late for learning

That people come in many layers

Different tastes and varied flavors

Some are friends and some past lovers

Some still waiting to be discovered

Some are natural entertainers

Some are battle scarred crusaders

You've got your unfaithful game players

And your self cautious naysayers

The drag you down and love sucks, haters

In need of twenty four/seven translators

Some are givers, some are takers

Some that watch and some partakers

The easy going and debaters

The bless your heart and blessing, pray(ers)

NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP

With their own specific point of views

Some that match and challenge you

But all with needs that must be met

With like worries in their heads

Living is vivid and complex

And just like you, deserves respect

So, when you find your minds out wandering

Look deeper down and do some sondering

****

A/N:

"Sonder" is the profound, often sudden realization that every random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, and worries. Coined by John Koenig in *The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows*, this neologism highlights that while you are the main character in your own life, you are only a background character in the lives of countless others.

Key Aspects of Sonder:

Definition: The awareness that everyone has a unique, intricate life story.

Origin: Created by John Koenig for his project, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, likely derived from the French sonder ("to plumb the depths").

Impact: Experiencing this feeling can increase empathy, compassion, and a greater appreciation for the complexity of human existence.

Context: It is often felt in busy, crowded settings, such as on a train, in a city, or in traffic.

While it is not a traditional dictionary word, sonder is used to describe the emotional, often humbling, awareness of the richness of others' lives.