Jean-Paul Satre said, It is possible to make choices, what is not possible, is not to choose." For even the act of not choosing between options is a choice in itself. To make choices is an inescapable aspect of our existence. Our lives are the end product of the choices we make. Though our environment and background affects and influences our lives, what ultimately makes us who we are, are the choices we make.
Though born in the ghetto, where the spoken english is incorrect, the streets are rough, weed is like a meal to many and crime is at its peak...? Even in such an unsafe place, one can still choose, either to be like the regular niggas and bitches who ditch school, break laws, live a life of crime, engage in bloody street wars over stupid reasons. Or one can choose to work hard, lay low in order to fly high in the future. Study hard, get a degree and become an individual, though born and breed in a ghetto is now a figure of respect in society. Our environment play a role in making or breaking us, but the choices we make will ultimately seal our fate.
I reject the concept of destiny and predetermination. I view it as a mere excuse we make in order to feel better about our life situations. To tell ourselves its not our fault, our life isn't desirable. It was already destined to be that way. Despite our reactivity, i refuse to believe that life is a stage and we are all actors, acting according to our scripts. Scripts written by external forces. If this is true then our rationality, which gives us the ability to make choices is a lie. Rationality presupposes freedom. Yes! Freedom to choose. The fact we are rational presupposes that we are free. Though our freedom is constraint by many factors, we are free beings that write our own destinies with the choices we make.
We define our existence, we give meaning to our lives. Some claim we are mere clays and God is the potter who continiously shape our lives throughout our existence. If this is true, then no man should be held accountable for any crime or wrong, only the potter (God) should bear the consequences of all actions. But God won't ! Because we are free agents that continiously shape our lives through our choices. We can only pray and believe for divine interventions as we go through life. Funny enough, even the act of praying and believing that a divine intervention is possible, is a choice we need to make for ourselves.
The importance of our choices cannot be overemphasized. Our tomorrow is a product of the choices we make today. Most choices we make don't just affect our lives alone, they affect the lives of others. Nigeria as a country, is a perfect example of the effect of wrong choices.
Therefore, before making a choice think! Be it who to love, career, what to believe in, how to live life, friends to keep, who to elect, priorities etc.
Though we may have made wrong choices in life, its never too late to start making the right ones. We can't re-write our past but we can change the course of our future through the choices we make today....