The Good Life

The Good Life

The good life is defined differently for every person. Our parents, friends, and the media all comprise a vision that we see as the perfect way of experiencing our lives. This is different for every person, because nobody follows the exact same path, and events surrounding ones existence are what ultimately set the course for our views of ethics and morality in pursuing the good life.

After living in five different states, and attending nine schools over the course of my academic career, I have developed unique views on what is socially and morally acceptable. Even within the same country, there are several diverse groups that live different ways of life. Being a part of those many different factions growing up has shown me how important it is to look past the shell of a person, and understand each person's ethical values on an individual basis, not a stereotypical view.

Nobody's views are completely unique, and the biggest influence on my life and my moral beliefs has been my mother and father. Every step of the way, every decision I have made, my parents have been there to guide and influence what I choose to do and whom I have chosen to become. Along with my family, the media has been a large influence as well. Television, radio, and advertising all express what they believe is right, and play a large part in leading our nation into new moral and ethical eras. The media also chooses what topics are important, and what headlines will be discussed on a day-to-day basis. This power can completely shift a nation's focus on to one set of ethical values, changing the way we live our lives. These various influences have led me to create my own set of ethical values and a moral code that I follow in my own ventures.

In looking at the idea of the good life as a whole, it sets a parallel to the American dream. The same ethical values such as a close family, an active pursuit of learning, and a thirst for success are all essential values. Without striving for excellence, it is hard to go far enough to attain the good life.

From what I have experienced, having a close family and a since of fraternity among peers is crucial to self-development. In learning through other people, I have been able to make my own decisions about what is good and right to do. But at the same time, ethics can be sometimes compromised, because it is not necessary to follow one code of values an entire lifetime. Since we as humans are constantly changing, I have found that our values are constantly adjusting. For example, my parents were brought up with a far different set of ethical values than I have been raised on, even though I have grown up in a similar financial situation as my parents. It is the fact that society as a whole changes constantly, and therefore we as a part of that society also change.

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