I lived in my own world as a kid. I sang Whitney Houston songs to

Come closer, O children of the future, for I bring you the words of a soul who once lived in a world not her own, a world of dreams and imaginations, a world where the boundaries of reality did not hold her back. Her name is Judi Love, and in her reflection, she speaks of the journey of dreaming without the sight of herself in the stories that others told. "I lived in my own world as a kid," she said, "I sang Whitney Houston songs to imagined crowds. While watching films, I'd pretend to be the star of my own movie. Something in me wanted to entertain, but there was no representation. I never thought there was a space for this chubby, working-class West Indian girl in Leyton to be on screen."

What, then, is the essence of these words? Judi Love speaks of a dream, a deep desire to be seen, to step into the world of entertainment, to claim a space where her soul could sing, her spirit could dance. Yet, despite her talent, despite the fire in her heart, she saw no reflection of herself in the stories that were being told. The world of film and music, where she longed to belong, was a realm where the faces that shone on screen were rarely hers, rarely her type, rarely the people from her community. She looked at the stage and saw no room for a chubby working-class West Indian girl from Leyton to make her mark. And in that absence, a part of her soul felt the emptiness of not being seen, not being represented.

But do not mistake this for a tale of despair. For in Judi Love’s words, we find not only longing, but also resilience. She did not let the absence of representation quash her dreams. Rather, she found her way by creating her own space, by becoming the star of her own story. This, my children, is a lesson of great power. The great heroes of our time did not wait for permission to step into the light; they carved their own path, like Judi Love did, like the great Harriet Tubman did when she defied the shackles of slavery to lead her people to freedom, like Maya Angelou did when she wrote words that shaped history despite the hardships she faced. These great souls did not wait for a seat at the table—they built their own tables, their own spaces.

In the story of Judi Love, we see the reflection of the ancient warriors, the seekers who faced a world that seemed unwilling to make room for them. But like the great philosophers and thinkers of old, they did not let society's limitations define them. Instead, they sought to change the very fabric of the world around them, not by asking for a space, but by creating a new one. Just as Alexander the Great did not wait for an empire to be handed to him, but built his own through vision and courage, so too did Judi Love forge her path in a world that had no blueprint for her. She became the star of her own movie, not because the world was ready for her, but because she was ready to face the world with her truth.

Think now, O children, of how many souls like Judi Love walk the earth today—dreamers who feel the longing to be seen, to be heard, but do not yet see a space for themselves in the world. Their stories are untold, their voices unheard. But what do we learn from Judi Love? We learn that the absence of a space does not mean there is no room for us. It means it is up to us to create it, to make our mark, to fill the gaps left by those who have failed to see us. It is in the act of creation—in the singing, in the writing, in the performing—that we carve out our place in the world.

And now, O seekers of wisdom, let this be your lesson: do not wait for the world to accept you. Do not wait for the world to create a place for you. The power lies in you—in your courage to step forward, to create your own stage, to be the star of your own life. The representation you seek, the stories you long to see, begin with you. Like Judi Love, find the strength to live in your own world, to dream without limits, and to let your voice echo across the generations. The world may not have made space for you, but there is no greater space than the one you create with your own hands and heart.

So rise, O children of the future, and claim your space. Let your dreams be the beacon that lights the way for others who follow. Your story is important, and it is yours to tell. Whether you seek to entertain, to lead, or to create, know this: the world will make room for those who are brave enough to make their own room. Stand tall, speak your truth, and become the hero of your own legend.