Munira Premji

I’ve been noticing something beautiful these past few days.

Spending time with Shayne, Sabrina, Afzal, and Cherrelle, I’ve seen a skill in action that feels both simple and powerful:  Curiosity.

Not the polite kind.  The real kind.

The kind that leans in and asks:
“What’s that like?”
“How is it different?”
“Tell me more…”

And it got me thinking.  When I was younger, and for people in my generation, you showed how smart you were by having the answers.

Now? It feels like the people who stand out are the ones asking the best questions.  Because answers are everywhere.  We carry them in our pockets. (Hello, AI).

Need directions? We have maps.
Need information? We Google it.
Need options? We ask AI.

But perspective?  Understanding?
Connection?  That comes from curiosity.

I see it everywhere here in Kenya. The moment I say I’m from Canada, the questions begin:
“What’s the weather like?”
“How do people live?”
“What’s different?”

And when I casually mentioned that the lemons look different in Canada, the response wasn’t agreement.It was: “How are they different?”

That question stayed with me.  Because that’s the shift.

Noticing is easy.  Wondering is powerful. And choosing to ask…
That’s where learning begins.

And I see it so clearly in my kids and their families.

Questions like:
• “Is there something I’m missing?”
• “What else is important here?”  And my favourite one, “What do you think?”

Simple.  But powerful.

I’ve realized I do this too — especially during treatment.

I make the most of my appointments by asking questions.  Questions like:
• “What’s prompting you to make this decision?”
• “What are the options we haven’t considered?”
• “What does success look like here?”
• “What are the risks if we do nothing?”
• “What should I be paying attention to that I’m not?”

Because curiosity, for me isn’t just about learning.  It’s about staying engaged.  Staying hopeful.
Staying fully present in the moment I’m in.

Maybe curiosity is the new superpower.

Not knowing – but wanting to know.
Not telling – but asking.
Not assuming – but exploring.

So here’s a small invitation: Today, instead of rushing to an answer, let’s pause and ask:

• “What am I missing?”
• “What else could be true?”
• “Who can offer a new perspective?”  We might be surprised where it takes us.

In a world full of answers, the advantage belongs to the curious.