Sonder

Sonder is: the profound realization that every random passerby is living a life as vivid, complex, and detailed as our own.

I walked, headphones in, to this blue froyo spot, in a city I’d hardly ever visited.

I chose my flavors intentionally, my toppings intentionally, before choosing a bar seat in front of the window.

A woman walked in shortly after. She chose her flavors intentionally, her toppings intentionally, and chose a bar seat in front of the window.

We sat there enjoying our own company.

I couldn’t help but wonder what she did that day.

It’s so funny, the human urge to interact with people we don’t know. But people don’t do that anymore.

Phones were the end of natural human interaction.

I left without asking.

But in my head, she was a mom. Away from everyone, enjoying her perfectly built bowl of froyo.

I wished her a good night before I left.