I was recently invited to be featured in my alma mater’s “Hall of Personalities” which is being put together to celebrate our 50-year anniversary. A former classmate nominated me, and I was pleasantly surprised when I got an email asking me to share a little about my journey ever since I graduated in 2009 (it’s gonna be 12 years soon, damn).
As part of the profile, they also asked me to fill out a personal question. The one I chose ended up being “What’s your life philosophy?” which certainly was the meatiest of them all. But I was somewhat keen on answering it, because I felt I had to put some work into it (reflecting, deciding, and putting it all into words). Here is how I ended up describing it.
The way I think about my life is actually very simple. My life is represented by a book with 80 empty pages, where each page represents one year of my life. Also, I was given 80 years (finger's crossed) to fill that book with stories. At the end of my life, what will remain, is not what job title I had at the age of 26, or what my salary was at 32, or what car I drove at 43 – what will last, and hopefully outlast me, is the richness of the book I wrote. It will be the stories, memories and emotions I experienced throughout my life, just as much as the connections I've made, and the people I've touched.
Writing the best story I could possibly write is what matters most to me, and I use that as my guiding principle to make decisions. It's the principle on basis of which I moved to China on a whim, and it's the same principle that has made me say YES to the craziest and most uncomfortable opportunities that came my way. The question “is this a story worth including in my book?” is pretty much the leading question on basis of which I make larger decisions in my life (moving places, taking opportunities, etc). It has prompted me to try many new things, and to do things I never thought I would be capable of.
The downside of this approach to life is certainly that it’s very restless in nature, and that, by default, it doesn’t lend itself for stability and tranquility. An exciting story often needs new material, but that’s not how life usually is. But that’s also something I am learning to appreciate and embrace, maybe having some pages in that story that are not all intense, but more quiet, thoughtful, reflective.
Anyway, I hope this makes you think a little bit about your own life philosophy. Do you have a guiding principle or question that you use to make decisions? A north star of sorts? I’d be curious to know.