Flame On: How a Childhood Nickname Is Fueling My Legacy

When I was in elementary school, I had a nickname.

Torch.

Not because I was the life of the party. Not because I was fiery in a sports kind of way. Nope. I was called Torch… because I had red hair and I blushed easily. Every time my cheeks turned red, the kids would laugh and yell, “Torch! Flame on!” like I was a Marvel superhero about to combust into fire.

At the time, it felt like teasing. Embarrassing. I wanted to hide. I wanted the blushing to stop. I didn’t realize then that what they were calling out wasn’t something to be ashamed of—it was a spark. The very thing I’d grow into.

They saw my red cheeks. What they didn’t see was the fire that was burning inside of me. What they didn't know, and what I didn't know, was that subconsciously, this was the beginning of my inner flame.

Years later, as I look back at my life—the careers I’ve navigated, the spaces I’ve held, the movements I’ve started—I see now that I am the torch. I always have been.

I’ve ignited conversations in classrooms as a sex educator, lit the path for women navigating transition, warmed the hearts of those finding their voice, and yes—sometimes burned down old belief systems that needed dismantling. I have turned that childhood “flame on” moment into a life of lighting the way—for myself and for others.

Because the truth is, we all blush in our own way.
We all feel exposed.
We all have moments where the heat rises and we wonder, “Is this too much? Am I too much?”

But what if that blush leads to your your calling? Your passion? Your purpose?

What if the blush is a signal—not of shame—but of awakening?

What if the thing they once teased you for is the very gift you were meant to share?

I’m no longer hiding the flame. I’ve embraced it. I'm living it fully. I’m not just Torch because I blush—I’m Torch because I lead with fire, love, and fierce devotion to creating a legacy that matters.

Flame on, indeed!
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Reflection Prompt: Have you ever been teased for something that turned out to be a gift? What parts of yourself are you ready to reclaim as powerful, sacred, and true?

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