Facing the unknown...

Do you feel we can hardly relate to the lifestyle people once had?

When things were predictable and people knew what to expect.

In an age defined by rapid change — from global politics to climate patterns to digital disruptions — uncertainty has become a constant companion. What was once an occasional disruption now shapes everyday decision-making. For young people planning careers, for families navigating economic swings, and for communities responding to unexpected challenges, the unknown is no longer a distant threat but a daily reality. The question isn’t how to avoid uncertainty, but how to build resilience around it.

Before we react, we must reflect. If we are thinking of job security, people in war zones are thinking of a safe place to sleep. Each sunrise is a gift.

But change is unavoidable. Everyone in the world has to face it, as no one is invincible.

Many people in the world prepare themselves with plans B and C. Then there are others who look at life with a sense of adventure.

A friend said she has been hearing so much bad news that she has begun to wonder what is going on. "If you look closely, we can see that everyone is unstable," she said. Everyone seems to have their own struggles. She said that it has been a while since she gave up on plans and decided to go with the flow. She lives for today, she noted.

Then there are people who look for adventures. Mark Evans is a known explorer and was awarded an MBE in 2011 for his outdoor journeys to connect cultures and promote dialogue between future leaders. I remember meeting him after he crossed the desert in 49 days with his counterparts from Oman in 2016. They crossed the sand desert on foot and by camel. And here I was, able to meet him on the shore of Al Qurum as he arrived kayaking from Musandam. He will continue his journey all the way to Dalkut in Dhofar. Sure enough, he is thinking about the marine environment and climate change during this expedition, Oman 3165.

Life teaches many things, and it is with experience we learn more than we can through books. But the ones who learn from experience can write a book.

Some of Mark's publications are Mark Evans, 55 days - a coastal navigation of Oman; Mark Evans, Desert Voices - a 28-day journey through the Empty Quarter of Oman; Connecting cultures - intercultural dialogues in the desert of Oman, The University of the Desert - using wilderness in Oman to bridge the cultural divide, International Journal of Wilderness, etc.

So does it mean we should move out of our comfort zone and seek?

The phrase 'Seek and you will find' reminds us that the motivation ought to come from within. When the motivation is teamed up with resilience, there is no end to inspiration. We feel we can never give up. But what is important is to be goal-oriented, and that is to complete a thought by taking action. If thoughts continue to flow in and out without any action, they become meaningless.

As another friend pointed out about the time-wasters - this particular group is the one who appear on the websites that are meant for selling used items."All the details are given on the website, but they will call up to ask the same mundane questions. And they never close a deal," said the friend.

Do we really have the time to waste?

Not if we have goals.

And in order to have goals, we need to know what we want in life, and for this, we need to listen to ourselves, for which we require me time.

It may be quite an exciting experience to face the unknown.