Glimpses into Lives

People are fascinating.
I regret in our culture that we can be afraid to ask personal questions, for fear of causing offence. Surely it’s a far greater offence to brush over the things that really matter to them. Albeit given that our motives are connection and compassion, rather than cold curiosity.

Sonder - n. “the realisation that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own”.
Like the gynaecologist who is hungry from fasting during Ramadan, working a long day all the while thinking about her 2 young kids at home, wondering how her marriage breakdown will affect them.
And the healthcare assistant, whose humour is both an antidote and a screen behind which lie the pains of his past, but knows the value of bringing a smile to someone’s day.
And what about the new mother, who gave birth to her first child only 6 months ago, only to discover afterwards that cancer was invading the womb that bore her baby.
And the patient who hopes to recover quickly from surgery, so she can open up her business and livelihood again.
And the lady who was relieved of a tumour containing 7 litres of fluid, flooded with relief to hear it was benign, and yet still wakening to reality from the raw drowsiness of her morphine.
See the Dad who never thought he would be a father, after years of infertility treatment.
And the boy who has just heard on his birthday, that soon he will be an older brother.
And the girl who never expected to be pregnant at this stage in her life, who doesn’t know whether to be terrified or overjoyed.

People who may come into our lives for a day, but for them it is reality, just as much as my everyday is to me.