@Ellehcim 25 January 2025

Sonder is a beautiful thing. What a comfort to experience hard things together. I knew this for quite while, but I realized its truth lately. Due to endless external reporting deadlines, I've been spending a lot of time at work lately, and that means, ending the day when it's already dark. Almost everyone was fast asleep, and if not, they're on the comfort of their homes scrolling through short clips, or just doing end of day things. Well, almost everyone. I hate working overtime, and I believe everyone does (please let me know of some people like such, so I can ask for some tips). Yet because of the nature of my work, I had to work long hours, or else I'll be missing deadlines and pay hefty fines and penalties. It's just like any other Tuesday for me, or so I thought. After getting of the first bus, I had to take the overpass leading to a mall with another bus terminal where I'm headed next. I got used to walking lots and traveling long hours due to the distance of my workplace and home, and I've always seen the same bus terminal with the same buses of different destinations, food stalls that are either closed or in the process of closing, and some few still with few stuff left, since it's already almost midnight. I've always been annoyed whenever the line is long—it means longer time of waiting and later I could go home. Yet, on this one particular Tuesday, God made me realize something. People of different ages and walks of life, were also right here, like me, who also aim to go somewhere, be it home or another. There were also people who probably got off work at 09:30pm like I did. There's also someone who just travelled from another place and queued here to get closer to their destination. At this hour. I am not the only one who has no choice but to stay awake and stand in the line. There are others like me who also spends these hours waiting on their turn to sit on the bus after a long, exhausting day. I think it's wonderful to know that I am not alone struggling like this. It didn't have to be people that I know to feel that sense of belonging. It's quite humbling to discover over and over again that every single one experiences hardships, and it's not only me. It was a beautiful reminder that I am not the only one in the world who wakes up before sunrise today, and sleeps on the next day. Sonder is one amazing thing that I could never fully express in words, but could be felt and understood so deeply inside.