There are many rational reasons for why free exists and is possible, one of them regading what you just say. Phenomenologically speaking, yes, we do not experience being determined in the way many describe therefore determinism can be simply negated immediately. Phenomenology is a philosophical discipline that is concrned with first person subjective experience, and the statement you just provided is a testament to that very fact. You are recognizing one of the structures of experience without even knowing it :D