Creativity: mixing the old with the new

Having recently started reading this book called S. by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst, I've been thinking about what creativity really means. Is there any real possibility of an idea being truly one's own if everybody's ideas hinge on things created before? I'd like to believe that it would be possible. 

According to Dictionary.com creativity means "the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination." When I read this definition the thing that stuck out to me was the word meaningful. Out of all the things my work could be, I want it to be meaningful to someone. Yes, I realize that essentially we all base our creativity off of something that already exists or at least our inspiration comes from that. However, I believe that our minds can conceive of something truly unique. It is a special ability of man to be able to think, to reason, and to create. Embrace it and own it as yours. Impart a piece of yourself into the work. Then it will be a little gift to the world. 

So far in my reading of S., the story has surprised me and stretched the mind in numerous ways to view creativity on a new level. I aspire to be able to someday create a novel of such wealth and abiding interest.