The future is a curious place. It is filled with the unknown; it's surrounded by assumptions, beliefs, and a faint smell of fear. Since none of us know what is to truly come next, we become frightened. What is it about the unknown that makes us uncomfortable? Why does it make the hair on the back of our neck stick straight out? Do we feel that if we know what is to come, there will be less suffering? Less heartache?

To know...a place where laughter is shared daily, smiles are planted on faces, and life seems easy. There is a sense of not needing to worry because you already know what is to come. In the bubble of knowing, planning is necessary. There must be a date, time, place, and location that one must consider, and recognize every minute of every hour. This is seen as comforting. To know that you will be where you're "supposed" to be. With the art of knowing, there is a sense that nothing can go wrong and everything will be the way it's supposed to be because it was planned. For others, there may be little planning, but they have a sense of what will go on throughout the duration of their day. While knowing may come with a sense of comfort, would you want to know too far into the future? This may include knowing when you'll die, what you will die of, how the world around us may crumble, and more.

To not know...there is a sense of panic, fear written all over you. You tremble while making your decisions, knowing that you will not know the consequences to your actions. Could you ruin something that was meant to be? The unexpected is right around the corner and the thought of that can make us sick to our stomachs. Some of the questions we ask ourselves everyday are stuck in this bubble of anxiety. Such as: Do I belong with this person? When will I die? Will I ever have children? Have I already met the one I will marry? How will I know if I'm doing something wrong? The questions are endless, as is the space they nest in. There is also a sense of comfort in not knowing though. We are able to live our lives daily, without having to worry about the outcome of our future; when that time comes, we will deal with it then.

Why do we fear the unknown? Is it because we don't want to know? Or is it because we know we don't want to hear what the future holds?