by David Duncan

Created on: December 11, 2011

I believe a personal philosophy is just that, personal.  However, it is something that may be shared in part with the philosophy held by others, forming a common set of viewpoints.  Growing up, I had strong male and female role models who instilled the benefits of hard work and a sense of community.  However, I am a “late baby-boomer,” who also grew up when tragedies like the assassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King, Vietnam Conflict, the Shuttle disasters, 9/11, the Iraq War, and the latest recession happened, showing bad things do happen no matter

how fair or how hard you work to build a good life. 

In turn, I also witnessed great achievements like Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon, the rise of the computer age, and the “going green” movement to improve the global environment which were all initiated by hard work, community and dream for a better life.   So, if you put a umber of us “late baby-boomers” in a room and ask us about personal utlooks, you would certainly find some shared beliefs.  You would also find each of our personal philosophies has been uniquely tempered by the events that took place over the past 50 plus years.

Now at 52, “the pursuit of happiness” is more of a marathon, than a sprint to the finish.  Hard efforts have become smarter efforts and each day is is measured on the whole of my pursuit for better living.  Help in my pursuit for a good life has come from many people and many forms.  At the center, my experience has been that often it just requires courage in asking for help, a habit that required a great change in my philosophy and overcoming shyness.  I also found that now being willing to listen more, speak less, is richly repaid in kind by those who appreciate being
heard.   A rich personal philosophy should include the use of shared beliefs.  Often, we are tempted to take all the credit for a personal achievement.  Looking closely behind most of my personal achievements reveals I had the help of others who I befriended by simply listening when they needed me to support them.    

From the book, Thoughts on Leadership, Thoughts And Reflections From History’s Great Thinkers (The Forbes Leadership Library,1995), noted editorial columnist and cartoonist Frank Tyger says, “In triumph there’s a lot of try” (94).  Nothing is achieved without first risking failure through trying something new.  For me, pursuing dreams of a better life has always meant risking failure.  Fear has stopped me in the past from trying new ways of thinking, new ways of action either by myself or with the help of others.  But, once overcoming fear, I have always triumphed.

My personal philosophy certainly has been tempered and tapered by what I have seen and felt over the years.  My outlook on life will continue to be reflected upon and molded throughout the rest of my days.  Bad things will happen, like the recent car accident that my wife, my granddaughter, and I walked away from without a scratch.  Still, there is goodness and hope to embrace every day if we look close enough.  For
me, hope for richer life lies with newly acquired career skills through smart planning, great health for my age, strong family and friendly bonds and truly trying my best each day. 

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