Pass the Torch

My father was a loving man who wanted the best for his daughter, but life didn’t give us much time together. His presence was brief but formative, planting the seeds of confidence and curiosity that would carry me forward. After he was gone, it was the women in my life, especially my mother, who became my compass.

My mother possessed a quiet kind of strength, a soft strength. She and the women before her didn't always have the language to explain the world they were living in. They simply hoped people would understand what was fair. What was right. They lived their values more than they spoke them.

Some I knew personally. Others I met through the pages of a book, the screen of a television, or in the stories of history. A few were purely fictional, but they were as real to me as any friend. All of them left a mark through their strength, courage, and grace.

In those early years, books became my companions. My first fictional hero was Nancy Drew. In elementary school, if I brought home good grades, I was rewarded with a new mystery. The Bungalow Mystery was my first, and then came The Hidden Staircase, The Secret in the Old Attic, The Clue in the Diary—I devoured them all. Nancy was smart, independent, and endlessly curious. She didn’t believe being a girl was a limitation. She could scale a fence and solve a puzzle as quickly as any boy and she reminded me that it was both fantastic and powerful to be female. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, like me. She had only one parent, like me. I imagined we shared a secret bond.

Then there was Wonder Woman, the warrior princess who fought for justice, peace, and equality. She was beautiful and strong, unapologetic in her power. She didn’t shrink herself to make others comfortable. I wanted to be like her too.

As I grew, my role models expanded beyond fiction. I learned about women like Amelia Earhart, a pioneer in aviation, a best-selling author, and even a clothing designer. The way I see it, I have important things to say and do, and I believe I can make my mark on the world while wearing beautiful clothes.

There are so many women throughout history who were female firsts. They broke records. Broke ground. Survived trials. They were brave and bold, and they paved the way. In today’s world, the list of exceptional women only continues to grow. They are peacekeepers, storytellers, activists, leaders, healers, and artists—women who are actively engaged in making our world better. Their stories dare me to reflect on what I want to stand for, what I want to contribute, and why it matters.

In the absence of what I lost, I found something to give. The women who shaped me, whether they knew it or not, taught me that part of our purpose is to pass along what we’ve learned. To notice the women coming up behind us. To offer our friendship, our guidance, and our belief in them until they can believe in themselves.

And one of the most powerful ways to do that? Share your story.

Stories are how we make sense of the world. They are how we connect, how we heal, and how we remind each other that none of us are walking this path alone. Your story may not feel extraordinary to you, but to someone else, it could be the light in the dark they’ve been searching for.

When you share the truth about your struggles, your detours, and your triumphs, you give others permission to do the same. You let them see that beauty and brokenness can coexist. You offer proof that even in the messiest chapters, hope can still live between the lines.

Don’t wait until your story feels perfectly wrapped with a bow. The moments that are the hardest to talk about are often the very ones someone else most needs to hear. Your honesty might be the lifeline that helps another woman find her footing.

Mentorship doesn’t have to be formal. Sometimes it’s a long conversation over coffee. Sometimes it’s showing up when it matters most. And sometimes it’s simply the life we live, quietly showing another woman that it’s possible to face adversity, navigate change, and still claim your joy.

We can’t underestimate the ripple effect of women supporting women. Every encouraging word, every open door, every I see you,and I’m here for you has the power to change someone’s trajectory.

Because when women pass the torch, through guidance, through example, through the stories we tell, and through the life we live, we light the path for the next generation to rise higher, dream bigger, and believe their light should never be dimmed. We are, after all, uncommon women on common ground, in uncommon times. We are bound together by our shared humanity and our willingness to lift each other higher.

Think of the women who have influenced and changed you most. Now imagine they are standing in front of you, passing you, the torch. Because here’s the truth: the job is too big for them to do alone. The world needs you to take up the torch.

And somewhere, perhaps without even knowing it yet, another woman will see your light and find the courage to shine on her own.

An excerpt from Wear Your Life Well: Lessons on the Journey to your Truest Self
Copyright: Helene Oseen 2026