We can reinvent ourselves.

"As fragile and inauthentic as our identities are, Bowie let us (and still lets us) believe that we can reinvent ourselves. In fact, we can reinvent ourselves because our identities are so fragile and inauthentic. Just as Bowie seemingly reinvented himself without limits, he allowed us to believe that our own capacity for changes was limitless. Of course, there are limits - profound limits, mortal limits - in reshaping who we are. But somehow, in listening to his songs - even now - one hears an extraordinary hope that we are not alone and this place can be escaped, just for a day."

— Simon Critchley, in his book Bowie (2014)