Philosophy could be a synonym to pondering, thinking deeply, loving the truth or simple thinking. It really doesnt have a paradigma. It also depends which kind of philosophy you are interested in. Metaphysics, fenomenalism? I am interested only in existentialism. I mostly read books by Nietzsche and Sartre and am kind of nihilistic in this view of things. So being a philosopher cant be really described. You can consider yourself one or not depending on your view, be it because of respect for great minds or arguying that every human is a philospher. Philosophers are mostly free thinkers and thats why you cant really get a proper definition to anything. They dont agree to anything be it fundamental or not. Realism or solipsism or other ? Only you can answer the question what philosophy is to you.