I grew up with some pretty crappy adults in our home, so without going into details, my first, best choice was to go get counseling when I was in my late 20s. Everything improved....
I made the choice to cut off contact with one parent who is very abusive and mentally ill (and chooses to stay that way). No regrets.
I divorced my then-husband who had addiction issues and a rather entitled attitude. Never again will I look twice at a man who owns the book "The Right To Be Lazy" (no, I am NOT joking... sheesh, I was a dumb bunny back then!)
I met my own dear love not long after divorcing; took a chance on being a couple again and we have been together for 12 years, married for 4. We chose to start counseling early in our relationship, both of us being previously married. It has saved us a lot of heartache, trying to make things good early on.
We chose to keep our 'surprise!' pregnancy and have a little, wonderful boy. (Yep, it IS a choice. But the easiest one I have ever made! :) )
We have chosen to live fairly simply for now and to have me stay home. I love it. Kiddo loves it. He goes to half-day kindergarten (another choice!) and we get a bit more time together before he heads off to full-day school next year. We don't have a lot of frills or vacations, but have money to take care of ourselves and make some much-needed improvements on the house. Humble ones, but certainly necessary. I miss working professionally, but am finding that volunteering at the school truly fulfills that 'sense of purpose' I had been wanting.
We have some lack in extended family, but so much richness in our friends, community and little family here at home. I am truly grateful for the first, hard choice of changing my life...which is why I share about it. From there, everything fell into place.--- but only because we were thoughtful about it.
(Maybe Anne is suggesting that Mormons make good choices for themselves and are happy? I am not Mormon and have nothing against them-- I think I'm just going to go with the positive spin!)