Sonder

We're all on this journey together.

Each of us walks through life with complex adversities that shape us over time.

Even if you and I have similar goals, similar problems, and similar occupations, the nuances and complexities of our lives will still differentiate us in ways we can't imagine.

Your life is yours and yours only - no one will understand it better than you.

And likewise, you'll never truly understand the depths of another person's life despite your best efforts.

But at least acknowledging that every person you've ever met and ever will meet has a life equally as complex and nuanced as your own is a profound realisation.

On face value, people don't seem that different from one another, but if you're willing to look deeper, you'll see that each human being is a true individual.

And much like the tree that falls in an empty forest still makes a sound even if you aren't there to witness it, the people around you continue to live complex lives, just like you, even when you aren't around.

When you find yourself in a state of sonder, you are at once a hero on a journey of self-discovery, a supporting cast member, and an extra in someone else story.