How much of me is mine?

Stoic philosophy teaches us to recognize that there is very little of our lives that is under our control. Basically, we only control how we interpret and react to the events in our lives. It also teaches to live with death in mind, and not make the assumption that you will live a long life.

Genetics is now learning that our genes can be modified by the trauma we experience and passed down to our children, and that genes can be transmitted between species (that’s called horizontal gene transfer).

Does DNA define if I have an organ or not? Or three ears?

If so, then so much of me, is not mine.

Is my genetic code almost as old as the planet?

Then, what I am, and who I am, is almost entirely out of my control.