This quote by Socrates is memorable for me. Many years ago, I was on a self improvement kick and this quote ended up standing out. I dreamed of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. All 2200 miles. I was 30 years old and spent all my days working in the office. I was skinny fat and hadn't been in shape since I was 17. I could just picture myself being 40, getting way far outside of my prime window and not knowing what it felt like to push myself to my limits, physically.

That was 10 years ago, I conquered the AT and have not stopped running and lifting weights since.

Couldn't I have just as easily determined sitting on my computer every night, holed up in my bedroom was the most comfortable path and continued to do that? I feel like I had a choice in the matter.

I feel like a lot of people who don't believe in free will use it as a way to offload all the mistakes they've made and ultimately not be responsible for their own fate.

I've had hard times in my life and I feel like I am where I am today through perseverance and determination. I've chosen to sacrifice things in order to achieve goals I've set for myself.

I used to think those who don't believe in free will were saying that my sacrifices were pointless because no matter what choices I make, it was determined to be exactly where I am today.

But I suppose I could look at it as that I never really had a choice in any of it , I was determined from the start to put in the time and make those sacrifices to get here.