A Perspective On Sonder

A View on Sonder

Brenda Arledge, poet and friend, has given us our 35th prompt, which is the unusual word - ‘sonder’. I had to look up the definition of this word, and I think with that and what people have written helped me understand the meaning.

Sonder is a word coined by John Koenig. This man runs a blog called “The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows”. On this blog he defines universal emotions when they have no official name. These undefined feelings are called neologisms.

We realize the people passing us by on the street also live a vivid life that is just as complicated as ours. We all have ambitions, and we all want a good life. Many things may occur that dash out ambitions and plans, such as a loved one may die or our partner may be unfaithful. Success is not guaranteed for anyone. We should care about others as we do not know the path they are walking.

Brantley Gilbert - Hard Days

What We Can Do

In Matthew 7:12 it says: “So in everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Even though we do not know what problems others may be facing we are to treat them well, just as we would like to be treated. What a better world it would be if we cared for our fellow man in that way. For instance, we have homeless people on the streets, and what can we do to help those people?

We can smile at the cashier checking us out in a store and tell them to have a good day. Instead of walking while looking down at our cell phones we can make eye contact with other people. Can you still be friends with someone who has a different political opinion from yours, or with someone who makes a different lifestyle choice? These are all questions we can ask ourselves. We can make a different choice.

People We Meet

As we walk down the long street

With such a large group of people

Often we look down at our feet

We do not who is good or evil

Life may be hard for ones we meet

All have problems walking through life

We get on the train taking our seat

We will never know what is their strife

We walk together yet don’t speak

Hurrying to our work each day

Many of us think we are unique

Yet we would like to find a way

Recommended

Ambulance’s Siren

Connect with others would be nice

But we don’t talk or even speak

We are not willing to take advice

We walk alone with tongue in cheek

We should care about the other man

Why do we ignore the pain of others

We move along often with no plan

We don’t know they are our brothers

Suffering of all our fellow man

Having concern and care for them

Can’t we include them in our plan?

Each one is also probably a gem

Acrostic Poem

See others as you see yourself

Other people should always matter

No one should suffer with no help

Do unto others as you do yourself

Everyone among us deserves care

Rewarding others makes us smile

Never Walk Alone - Hillsong Worship

© 2021 Pamela Oglesby