What do you choose to be?

My in-laws regale us with family stories and one of my favorite "characters" is my father-in-law's mother. I never had the good fortune of meeting her and I'm sorry that is the case since she sounds like a wonderful lady, and one I would have enjoyed very much.

Apparently she was a tiny woman with a great attitude and a wonderful sense of humor. She was bright and fun, and the absolute last person you would ever cross. While my husband and his 3 brothers adored her, they never dared step out of line. When questioned about her strength and her ability to run a benevolent dictatorship with all these boys running around she shared a story from her childhood. She had 2 older brothers and when she was about 8 she had a decision to make; she could either be the "pick-ee" or the "pick-er" and she chose to be the "pick-er". And she never looked back.

It makes me think about the choices I make. Who am I choosing to be? Am I taking control and making choices that shape my life or am I allowing circumstances (like 2 older brothers) determine my life? I think I'll take a page from this marvelous lady's book and choose for myself.