sonder – n.
the realization that each random passerby
is living a life
as vivid and complex as your own.
—
THE DICTIONARY OF OBSCURE SORROWS – John Koenig
—
kerrytown, ann arbor, mi, usa – march 2019
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I didn't have my glasses on.... 
And the constant shock at the realization that so many lives exist that we all have no personal knowledge of. Blows my mind ALL the time.
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Yes!
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What a great word. It’s a great reminder. Sometimes I think we forget that – or I do!
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Yes, it hits me every so often and it really makes me think
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We need to. :)
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There are a million stories in the naked city, said the start of that old TV show, Beth.
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Ha, yes!
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I feel it. Didn’t know there was a word for it! Thanks Beth.
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Yes, me too –
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Really beautiful to learn and acknowledge.
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Yes, it puts things in perspective and takes the focus off of ourselves and what we worry about
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Perhaps that should be added to the definition.
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Yes-
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New word for me! Thanks, Beth :)
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My pleasure- words are great, aren’t they?
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Hi Beth. If you’re interested I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. It’s up to you if you want to do it. Much love and best wishes to you 🙂
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Ty –
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I often have such thoughts when I am walking – I did not know it had a name :-)
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Its funny how all of a sudden we take notice of this and then forget again-
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We really don’t know what someone else is going through, do we… Great reminder here.
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Exactly
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Cool word. I just feel it should be a verb, “. . . to sonder.” More to ponder. )))
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Yes!
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Such profound awareness – I remember how it felt when I first realized that!
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It is an amazing feeling
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WOW! Love that!! Thanks for teaching me that word today.
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My pleasure)
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I’d never heard that word before.
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Same here but it described the experience perfectly
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I came across it at an interesting time. We are waiting to hear back on a job interview for my daughter. She would really like the position, but as it turns out, so would 9 other qualified people… So, we are all sort of having the same experience, but yet not.
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Who knew? Good luck to her )
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Thanks :)
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I did not know this word’s meaning. You give it depth and importance, Beth. Thank you!
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You are very welcome
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🙂
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Thank you for this post and for this new word. When I began doing a little research about John Koenig and the origin of the word, I came across this YouTube. Phenomenal. I also came across a TED talk that Koenig had done, and later a TEDx talk as well. Thanks so much for this post and for introducing me to Koenig …
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Absolutely my pleasure
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Such a good reminder 🙏🏻💚
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I think so too
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We all need that reminder now and then, too.
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It’s always a good wake up call
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ty!
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