Challenge of the unknown is always a big thought. It is always about tomorrow.  It is always about forecasting the future or visioning of the future.

Whatever be the change of situations in future, we can also do whatever is best, given the realities of today.  In other words, finding out how the realities of today will change in the future.

This is an extremely difficult task to do.  However, we can understand some major trends to understand the question, "what is in it for me?".  When one has such a deep understanding of trends, it is but inevitable that the trends will always turn out to be true.

Let us take one major trend that affects all of us: inflation.  The first assumption that we need to make is that the inflation is never ever going to come down, given the fact that the cost of production of every single commodity or product is always going to go up and will never ever come down.

The prices of electronics goods have come down, but have reached the saturation point beyond which prices have not come down at all.  For instance, the prices of computers, that is, the branded ones, are in the thirty to forty thousand range only, at the lower end of the spectrum.  So, we need to factor in inflation, but also take into account the fact that we need huge amount of resources to maintain the same lifestyle, with the barest of comforts, as we grow old.

The second assumption is that our cities will grow beyond all levels, and even up to one hundred and fifty kilometers, there will be development.  The crowds will never be manageable, and we need to find out ways and means to beat this problem of big crowds.  For instance, many intelligent families are migrating to tier 2 and tier 3 cities such as Mangalore and Coimbatore, and put their children into the best of schools in such cities, which are less crowded, and have less pollution as well.

So, in future, we may have to move back to nature, and live in less polluted places.  This might help us to face uncertain situations in future. 

The third assumption is that we need to take care of ourselves.  No one, including parents, even if they are alive, can help us.  Today's life being what it is, the dog days are here with us, and will stay with us.  Let us take one manifestation of this trend --- our marriages.

Some twenty years ago, we had situations where the closest of relatives will stay on with us for around two weeks and help us to get our son's or daughter's marriages organized.  Even after the wedding is over, the relatives will help us in one way or the other.

What about today?  It is not at all a surprise that we will have just the parents on either side for glorious company of the newly married couple!

We can be certain that in the future, there will be a real repeat of this situation, for all time to come.  So, facing uncertainties will simply mean that we need to be prepared to face any uncertainty associated with the conduct of the wedding itself, in future, when we take this particular context into account.

The fourth assumption is that complexities of life and the reach of information technology will simply overwhelm us to an extent, that if we are not tech savvy we will be left behind.  So, irrespective of what happens tomorrow, we need to keep on updating ourselves on how to play around with computers.

The fifth assumption is that we will need social security of a tall order, in future.  For example, it is wise to take health insurance policies for a minimum amount of fifteen hundred thousand rupees at this point of our lives, and keep on scaling up this, when we becoming older.

Of course, increasing knowledge of herbal treatments, so profound in the Siddha and Ayurveda systems of Indian medicine, is now opening up like never before, and the Western people are pumping in millions of dollars here.  Preventive medicine will be of tremendous help, and we can now gear ourselves for this change.

For example, for simple colds and consequent fever, there is a herb called Thoothuvalai legiyam (Latin Solanum trilobatum commonly known as purple-fruited pea eggplant).  Today, in most of Tamil Nadu, this is the treatment, and only if the fever persists, people go to the hospitals for what they call "English medicine".  In future, knowledge of such traditional treatments will help us to face uncertain situations about our health, of course, with a big emphasis on preventive medicine.

The sixth assumption about uncertain situations in the future will be the huge increase in pollution levels.  For example, today, we have water available through the reverse osmosis technologies.  This pure water will become a norm, particularly for drinking purposes.  We just need to gear up and shore up our savings by reducing conspicuous consumption, which is very much in our hands today.

The seventh assumption that we need to make about handling uncertain situations in future, is about our personal security will come under bigger risk than ever before.  We need to get ready to face the threat of terrorism in our lives.  Many innocent lives have been lost in the recent past.

Lest such an unfortunate crisis happens to us, we need to understand that we serious security in terms of savings, so that our family members stay sec secure in times of real crisis.

The eighth major and the most important assumption is that we have to develop the coping skills to survive and live a happy life, in terms of terrific tension.  For example, the population of India will grow to even bigger levels and numbers and the number of people converging at any point in time, in hospitals, temples, festivals, and in just about any other social occasion will be very huge.  In the face of such challenges we need insulated societies like the gated communities, where life would be far more peaceful and simple.  We can afford to keep ourselves simple indeed.

There is another alternative -- a very intelligent alternative.  To live in a small village well connected by road to the big town, and to another big city, would be an excellent option.  The cities would offer us the cushion of advanced medical treatment, if at all we need it.  The relatively peaceful and healthy life in the village will ensure that there is less pollution, and that we are one with nature.  That we live in natural environs.  We do not need to own a house there --- we can even rent out one, to stay on.

What happens in spite of all our being prepared, on the basis of the realities, based on all the aforesaid assumptions?

Yes, that is a real possibility, but our being prepared will enable us to cope with the crisis of any magnitude in future.  In fact, being prepared is far better than not having any safety net for meeting any situation.