Annie Barber
As the days pass and society becomes increasingly fragmented, sonder has become an ever-present feeling for me.
Each person I pass on the street has their own story that I’ll never know, and the space between us only makes me wonder about their lives more. The isolation and broken relationships in our society should make me feel this less, shouldn’t they?
But that’s not the case. Polarising politics and the threat of conflict haven’t affected me as I expected. In fact, they’ve almost had the opposite effect. While politicians continue to lie and coerce people into projecting their anger onto each other – rather than onto them – my desire for community only grows stronger. Seeing human rights being taken away and hatred spreading in my country has made me yearn for connection and a deeper understanding of others more than ever before.
Sometimes, I find it hard to feel hopeful during these turbulent times. Yet a friendly smile from a stranger, or a simple interaction with a neighbour, reignites that hope. Suddenly, I’m reminded that they are just as complex and capable of love as I am.
Coming from an island where community is integral – even essential – to life gave me a deep sense of empathy and importance toward those around me. Since leaving home and moving from city to city, I’ve realised how rare that feeling is.
Now that community seems less common and less valued where I live, I often find myself wondering whether those strangers I pass on the street – or sit next to in a coffee shop – feel the same as I do. Do they also wish they were part of something bigger?
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