Creating self and shaping the world

Every day, through their daily occupations, people create and recreate themselves and shape the world in some way. This ongoing process is an important factor in maintaining or enhancing health for individuals and communities, as well as professional associations. It can also be a major determinant of dysfunction, disease, disability or death should regular engagement in occupation not meet the needs of the people or sustain a healthy environment. In order to illustrate how occupational therapists can create themselves and shape the world in a positive way, this paper tells the stories of three women, Octavia Hill, Elizabeth Casson and Betty McIntyre, who in different ways, places and times, pioneered our profession. The paper includes brief discussion about some of the influences on, and the influence of, these women and about how knowing and reflecting on their stories can influence our future. In part, this includes the need for us to understand the depth and strength of our heritage and the power of taking a proactive stance towards increasing sociopolitical awareness of occupational therapists’ distinctive and often unappreciated view of the relationship between occupation and health.