SHORT TAKES: What Have We Learned Lately?

By M.Zulkifli

Over the past decade (or, for the younger folks, since you graduated and figured out how to pay bills), what new skills have you picked up? Or which existing ones have you actually sharpened?

It’s a question I ask myself more and more these days – especially when I’m staring blankly at a spreadsheet, a new app interface, or some overly enthusiastic guy whipping up Uncle Roger-approved fried rice – while I still can’t masak nasi without second-guessing the water ratio.

In this day and age, is it still okay to say, “I don’t know how to do this”? Technically, sure. But come on — we all carry a device that can teach us virtually anything. Want to design a logo? Build a website? Understand AI (or at least bluff your way through a meeting about it)? You’re literally one Google search away.

Even within your own field, there’s probably a ton you could level up on — stuff that used to take months to learn can now be grasped over a single weekend and three cups of nespresso.

And it’s not just about work. Picking up a new skill — however random — can genuinely enrich your life. Learn to exercise more effectively (and in a way that suits your age), fix that leaky sink, or finally get your Google Drive organised like a proper adult. That sense of progress helps keep stress in check and the mind sharp.

There’s also a wealth of free, high-quality learning out there if you know where to look:

Beneficial podcasts that cover everything from personal finance to health to Islamic knowledge (and yes, there are brilliant ones out there, both in English and Bahasa Malaysia).

Free courses from top universities on platforms like Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn — including ones on writing, business, computer science, and even deep Islamic studies from Al-Azhar, Yaqeen Institute, or Bayyinah.

You can start small too:
– Learn one new keyboard shortcut
– Write better emails (seriously, it’s a life skill)
– Get your kid to teach you CapCut or Canva
– Memorise a new surah, or revisit tafsir with fresh eyes
– Learn what “blockchain” really is (or pretend to, convincingly)

The point is: It’s all in our hands. Literally.

So the next time you’re tempted to say, “I don’t know how to do this,” just remember — that’s soooo 20th century