One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that eventually we have to take responsibility for who we become.

Our background influences us. Our experiences shape us. Other people may encourage us, disappoint us, hurt us or open doors for us.

But they don’t get the final decision.

We decide what we carry forward.

We decide whether anger becomes cruelty, whether disappointment becomes bitterness and whether mistakes become excuses or lessons.

Becoming the person you want to be takes longer than you think.

Maybe that’s because life isn’t only about discovering who you are.

It’s also about deciding who you’ll become. Your past may explain parts of you, but it doesn’t get the final vote on who you become.