Law of the universe

A friend told me last night that we are responsible for everything that happens to us, EVERYTHING. It made absolute sense to me. If I had to look back at the last 34 years of my life, yes, there are a few things that seemed like I had no control over. There were no options when it came to choosing my family, hence, defining my childhood, upbringing, siblings, relatives etc. But really, if I had to dig really deep into the law of the universe, is that really true?
Do we really not have any control over our lives from day one? Or do we determine that by the way we choose to live our lives right now? Will whatever I do today determine my next life in the whole cycle of reincarnation? It's an interesting theory.
Everyday, we are faced with options, and we are constantly making decisions, choosing A over B or C. These are the choices that directly affect what goes on in our lives. Have you ever had the "What if?" or "If only.." thought before? What if I had taken the train to work instead of the bus, I might have met the man of my dreams? If only I had woken up 30 minutes earlier this morning, I would not have missed my flight. Well, the list goes on. When something happens in our lives, we owe it to many things, like good or bad luck. But did we ever stop to think that we could have made it happen by the genuine power of the mind? If there was one thing that I wish I could conquer, it would have to be my own mind. It is the most powerful and wonderful part of me as a living entity in this universe.
I do not know why it took the many challenges that I have had to face to make me realise my true potential. Is this God's way of showing me my true worth? I still have a long way to go building my self esteem and understanding my mind. But it has made me want to live a better life, never repeating the same mistakes, and carry on living. Because truly, no matter how harsh life can be, it is still the greatest gift of all.