Goodness is something to be chosen. When a man cannot choose he ceases to be a man. – A Clockwork Orange

We make choices every day, all day.  Do I take proper care of my children or do I ignore them?  Do I provide for me and mine, or do I live off the labor of others?  Do I follow the law and my own moral code, or do I violate both?

Who you are and how you are perceived depends, to a large extent, on the choices you make in life.  Everyone will make mistakes.  Everyone will be kicked in the gut on occasion.  The difference between a good person and a villain is in recognizing when we have chosen poorly and trying to do better the next time.