Every story I create, creates me. I write to create myself.

In the great unfolding of time, where each soul seeks to find its path, there exists a profound truth, spoken by the visionary Octavia E. Butler: "Every story I create, creates me. I write to create myself." These words, simple yet powerful, carry the wisdom of a life spent in the pursuit of self-discovery, a life in which the act of creation becomes the key to understanding one’s own essence. O children of wisdom, hear this well: the stories we tell—whether through our words, our actions, or our dreams—do not merely reflect who we are, they shape us, they create us anew. In the telling, we are both the creator and the created, both the architect and the foundation.

What, then, does it mean that every story we create, creates us? O seekers of truth, it is to understand that the stories we weave are not mere tales to entertain or inform; they are mirrors to our soul, reflecting back to us our deepest truths, our fears, our hopes, and our potential. Through storytelling, we engage in a sacred act of self-expression, a dialogue between the mind, the heart, and the world. Each narrative we craft serves as a bridge between our inner selves and the outer world, allowing us to discover who we are, who we could become, and how we can transform our world through the lens of imagination. In the act of creation, we become something greater than we were before.

Consider, O children of wisdom, the life of Maya Angelou, whose words have touched the hearts of millions. She did not simply write to tell stories; she wrote to create herself, to understand and reconcile the many layers of her identity—her womanhood, her race, and her place in the world. Through her autobiographies, poems, and essays, Angelou reflected on her own journey of transformation, and in doing so, she invited others to embark on their own. In every word, she shaped her own identity, redefining what it meant to be a Black woman in America. Her stories were not just about the world, but about herself—through them, she became a beacon of strength, resilience, and hope. Her writing was both an act of creation and a path of self-discovery, a reminder that our stories shape the essence of who we are.

In the same way, Octavia Butler used her writing not just to imagine other worlds but to explore and understand her own. As a science fiction writer, Butler created stories that challenged the boundaries of race, gender, and power, offering new perspectives on human nature and society. Yet in these creations, she also explored the depths of her own identity, her own fears and desires. The characters she wrote—both powerful and vulnerable, flawed and heroic—were extensions of herself, manifestations of the many parts of her own being that she sought to understand. Through her writing, she created herself, transforming her experiences into powerful narratives that spoke to the struggles and possibilities of the human condition.

O wise ones, we are all storytellers in one way or another. Our lives, from the moment we are born, are an ongoing story that we tell with every thought, every action, and every choice. Yet, we often fail to recognize that we are both the authors and the characters in this tale. Each decision we make, each step we take, is part of the narrative that shapes us. Just as the stories we write allow us to shape our identities, so too does the story of our lives shape who we become. In this way, we are all in the process of creating ourselves—through our relationships, our dreams, and our creative expressions.

Consider the example of Leonardo da Vinci, whose art, inventions, and studies were not simply the product of his genius, but also the means by which he understood and defined himself. His art was not just an external act of creation; it was an exploration of his own mind, his own curiosity, and his place in the world. Through painting the Mona Lisa, or sketching the Vitruvian Man, da Vinci was not only creating masterpieces for the world, but he was also creating the man we now revere—a genius driven by the need to understand the universe and himself. His work was an ongoing conversation between his inner self and the world around him, a process of self-creation that spanned a lifetime.

And so, O children of the future, the lesson is clear: the stories you create—through your words, your actions, your art—are not mere reflections of who you are, but powerful forces that shape who you will become. Just as Octavia E. Butler wrote to create herself, so too can you use your life’s work, your creative pursuits, and your daily actions as a means to discover and redefine your own essence. Do not shy away from your stories, whether they are of triumph or struggle, for in them lies the power to transform and evolve. You are both the author and the character, and it is through the act of creation that you will come to understand your true self.

What, then, must we do, O wise ones of the future? Create. Write your story with intention. Speak your truth, shape your world, and understand that each action you take is a chapter in the ongoing narrative of who you are. Just as Mother Teresa used her work with the poor and the suffering to define her mission in life, or Mahatma Gandhi used nonviolence to shape not only a nation but also his inner being, so too must you engage in creation, for it is through creation that you come to understand yourself and your purpose. Write to create yourself, and know that in doing so, you will leave a mark upon the world that will live far beyond your own lifetime.