We’re excited to share not only our love story but also a unique decision we’ve made about our future together. Instead of adopting one another’s last name, we have chosen to create a new one for our shared life: Sonder. “Sonder” is a word from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows—a beautiful collection of invented words that capture the nuances of complex human emotions. In this dictionary, “sonder” is defined as the realization that every person is living a life as complex and vivid as your own. Coined by John Koenig, the term speaks to the beauty of recognizing the depth and richness in every individual’s experience. This is described more vividly in the book. For us, adopting the name Sonder is more than a change on paper; it’s a philosophy. It represents our commitment to fostering connection, purpose, and shared humanity in every aspect of our lives. We hope that by embracing this name, we will always be reminded of the intricate stories that make up not only our lives but the lives of everyone around us—a guiding principle for the future we envision for ourselves and our future children. We wholeheartedly recommend The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows to anyone who loves exploring the beauty of language and the emotions it can evoke. It’s a book that has truly inspired us, and we hope it might inspire you as well. Thank you for being a part of our journey. We look forward to sharing more moments of connection and discovery with you all!