I had a sad and unhappy childhood, until I was well into my teens and as you always mention where I had the opportunity and there having made an internal process that freed me from attachments, I made hard decisions that made my life turn around radically. That new beginning was harder than I planned, but I still think it was the best thing to do and I act to make my goal happen every day.
I always liked your way of thinking about it, because it coincides with mine. Everyone is the architect of their own destiny, I paint it and no one else does it for me.