oh yes, it really is up to you...

we all have choices. people, many times, will act like they don't. they will act like such-and-such a thing happened because of things outside their control, but that's not always the case. you can't change some things, but you can change yourself. you may not be able to change that your paycheck is too small, or the genes you were born with (definitely can't change that), cannot change where you are living sometimes, or what car you drive. you can change how you react to things, and who you choose to be. you can self-evaluate and decide who it is you allow in your life (oh, yes you can!),and what your character says about you, and if that is what you want to show to the world. those are choices. choose wisely.