The Story Of Being Human

The story gets retold every generation.

Every generation thinks they're the first to tell it.

The details change, subtle differences, not major reworks.

Main characters will be gendered and colored as is appropriate for the generation, as judged by the generation prior.

So there is a delay involved, it never quite keeps up.

You'd think this would mean the story is dragged forward by the rest of society.

But it's the story that sets the path society takes.

Because one day, if there's no story, then there's no society.

The other way round would also be true, to be fair.